Heritage

Konark Sun Temple from Ranchi - 547 km, 12 hr - 13 hr by cab

A stone chariot for the sun, UNESCO-listed since 1984

Distance

547 km

Drive time

12 hr - 13 hr

Best time to visit

Oct - Feb

From

₹15,999 as part of the Puri-Konark package

Konark Sun Temple is 547 km from Ranchi, about 12 hr - 13 hr by cab. A stone chariot for the sun, UNESCO-listed since 1984. Raahi Saarthi cab fares start at ₹15,999 as part of the Puri-Konark package. The best time to visit is Oct - Feb.

Konark is the surviving jagamohana of a thirteenth-century temple built around 1250 CE under the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I, conceived as the chariot of Surya - twenty-four carved stone wheels along its plinth, drawn by a team of horses. UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List in 1984. The main sanctuary collapsed centuries ago; what stands is monumental enough that the loss registers only when you are told. It is 35 km from Puri along the Marine Drive, which is the best hour of driving on the whole Odisha circuit.

How to reach Konark Sun Temple from Ranchi

Konark is 35 km from Puri on the Marine Drive - a smooth two-lane coastal road with the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Balukhand-Konark sanctuary on the other - and about 68 km from Bhubaneswar. From Ranchi it is 547 km, so it is always reached as part of a Puri trip rather than directly.

Highlights

Twenty-four carved chariot wheels, each a sundial in its own right
The jagamohana - the surviving hall, and the reason the site still reads as a chariot
UNESCO World Heritage listing since 1984
The ASI archaeological museum beside the complex, closed on Fridays
Chandrabhaga beach, a short drive from the temple gate

Insider tips

Go early or late - the complex is open, shadeless and brutal in the middle of a hot day
Entry is an ASI ticket bought at the gate; carry original photo ID
Visitor access to the Nata Mandap was restricted on safety grounds in late 2025, so check what is open on the day
The light-and-sound show is closed on Mondays, and it means driving the Marine Drive back to Puri in the dark
The museum closes on Fridays; the temple itself has no weekly closure

Konark Sun Temple, Puri - A stone chariot for the sun, UNESCO-listed since 1984

Quick facts

Distance from Ranchi: 547 km
Drive time: 12 hr - 13 hr
Best time to visit: Oct - Feb
Type: Heritage
State: Odisha
District: Puri
Cab fare: ₹15,999 as part of the Puri-Konark package

Nearby attractions

Chandrabhaga beach (3 km)
Puri (35 km)
Bhubaneswar (68 km)

FAQs about Konark Sun Temple

How far is Konark from Puri?

Konark is 35 km from Puri along the Puri-Konark Marine Drive, about 45 minutes to an hour by cab. It is the easiest and most scenic drive on the Odisha circuit, running through the casuarina belt of the Balukhand-Konark sanctuary with the sea on one side.

Is Konark Sun Temple a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes. The Sun Temple at Konark was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. UNESCO's own description calls it a monumental representation of the sun god Surya's chariot, with twenty-four decorated wheels and a team of horses.

What does it cost to enter the Konark Sun Temple?

Entry is an Archaeological Survey of India ticket bought at the gate, with the standard World Heritage Site rate for Indian nationals and a higher rate for other foreign nationals; children under fifteen are admitted free. Rates are set by the ASI and change from time to time, so buy at the counter or the ASI portal rather than through any third-party site. Raahi Saarthi keeps monument tickets outside the package price rather than quoting a figure that may be out of date.

Can Konark be done as a day trip from Puri?

Yes, easily - it is 35 km each way, and most visitors give the site two to three hours. The usual shape is to leave Puri after breakfast, spend the late morning at the temple, take Chandrabhaga beach and the ASI museum after lunch, and be back in Puri by evening.