Places to Visit Near Konark Sun Temple Odisha

Chandrabhaga Beach is the closest sight to the Konark Sun Temple. Photo: Pinakpani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Places to Visit Near Konark Sun Temple

ॐ जय जगन्नाथ - कोणार्क के आसपास

Beach, temples, craft villages and a lake, with distances and simple tips.

Konark is part of a rich heritage belt on the Odisha coast. Within about two hours you can see a famous beach, one of the four Dhams of Hinduism, a city of old temples, an Ashokan site, a craft village and Asia's largest coastal lagoon. This page lists each place, how far it is, and what to know before you go.

This is Page 3 of our 6-page Konark guide. For tickets and timings at the temple, see Page 2. For roads and trains, see Page 4.

Distances are approximate road distances. They come from commonly published figures and can change with the route and traffic. Use a map app on the day.

Nearby Places at a Glance

संक्षेप में

Distances from the Sun Temple

Place	Distance	Best for
Chandrabhaga Beach	about 3 km	Sunrise, a short break, festival dip
Ramachandi Temple	a short drive on the Puri road	A riverside Devi shrine, quiet stop
Puri (Jagannath Temple, beach)	about 35 km	Darshan, beach, Bada Danda market
Raghurajpur craft village	about 45 to 50 km	Pattachitra paintings, live art
Bhubaneswar (temples)	about 65 km	Lingaraj, Mukteshwar, Rajarani, museums
Dhauli Shanti Stupa	about 70 to 75 km	Ashoka edicts, peaceful hill view
Chilika Lake (Satapada)	about 90 to 100 km	Boat ride, birds, dolphins

1. Chandrabhaga Beach and Ramachandi

चन्द्रभागा तट

The closest stop, with a Sun-worship link

Chandrabhaga is a long, open beach a short drive from the temple. Odia tradition links it with the Sun God and the Samba legend. Every year on Magha Saptami (Ratha Saptami) thousands of devotees take a holy dip at sunrise and the Chandrabhaga Mela is held. In 2027 Ratha Saptami falls on 13 February, according to a published panchang. Check the date again closer to the time.

On normal days the beach is pleasant in the morning. The waves can be strong, so keep children close and listen to the local lifeguards. Swimming rules and flags change from day to day, so please follow them. The International Sand Art Festival is held near this beach in early December, as listed by Incredible India.

2. Puri and the Jagannath Temple

पुरी धाम

One of the four Dhams, about 35 km away

The Jagannath Temple complex in Puri. Non-Hindus cannot enter, but the spire can be seen from outside. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Live darshan note: Konark has no live darshan because it is a protected monument with no worship. This stream shows Sri Jagannath Darshan from Puri and is run by a third-party channel, Jay Jagannath TV Hindi. It is not an official channel of the temple. It plays only when the channel is live, and it starts muted. Tap the speaker icon for sound.

The Jagannath Temple is one of the Char Dham of the Hindu tradition and the home of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. The yearly Rath Yatra brings huge crowds to the Bada Danda (the Grand Road) in Puri.

Entry rules to know: Only Hindus are allowed inside the Jagannath Temple. Many visitors who cannot enter see the spire from the street or nearby viewpoints. Dress modestly. Cameras, phones and leather items are usually not allowed inside, so check the latest rules from the temple administration before you go.

3. Raghurajpur and Pipili

रघुराजपुर

A village of artists

An artist at work in Raghurajpur, a village known for Pattachitra painting. Photo: Sumit Surai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Raghurajpur is a heritage crafts village near Puri where many families paint Pattachitra (scroll painting on prepared cloth), carve wood, and make palm-leaf art. You can watch the work and buy directly from the artist. Start early in the day because some houses close in the afternoon. Pipili, on the Puri-Bhubaneswar route, is known for colourful appliqué work.

4. Bhubaneswar Temple Trail

भुवनेश्वर

The city of temples, about 65 km away

The Lingaraj Temple complex in Bhubaneswar. Photo: Rajashree Talukdar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Temple	Period	Why visit
Lingaraj Temple	About 11th century	The largest temple in the city, dedicated to Shiva. Non-Hindus can view from a platform outside.
Mukteshwar Temple	About 10th century	Known for its carved arch (torana) and fine, small size
Rajarani Temple	About 11th century	Known for graceful female figures. Run by ASI with a ticket.
Parasurameswara Temple	About 7th century	One of the oldest standing temples in the city

5. Dhauli Shanti Stupa

धौली

About 8 km south of Bhubaneswar

Dhauli is linked to the Kalinga War, traditionally dated to 261 BCE, and has Ashokan rock edicts. On the hill stands the white Shanti Stupa, built in the 1970s by Japanese Buddhist groups. It is calm and has wide views. Plan about 1 hour.

6. Chilika Lake

चिल्का झील

Large lagoon, birds and boat rides

Boats on Chilika Lake. Photo: Achyuta.das1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Chilika is the largest coastal lagoon in India and a Ramsar wetland. Birds arrive from late autumn to winter, usually from November to February. Boats leave from points such as Satapada, where visitors may see Irrawaddy dolphins. A boat trip and the drive can take most of the day. Check boat timings and weather first.

Sample 3-Day Plan

3 दिन की योजना

One easy loop on the Golden Triangle

Day	Morning	Afternoon and evening
Day 1	Arrive in Bhubaneswar. Temple trail: Mukteshwar, Rajarani, Lingaraj (outside)	Drive to Puri. Evening on the beach.
Day 2	Early drive to Konark. Temple, then Chandrabhaga Beach	Raghurajpur on the way back. Evening at Puri if you wish.
Day 3	Puri Jagannath area and Bada Danda	Return to Bhubaneswar. Dhauli if time allows.

If you have an extra day, add Chilika by boat from Satapada. Many travellers pick Puri as a base for Konark, because it is much closer than Bhubaneswar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers

Can I visit Konark and Puri in one day?

Yes. Konark is about 35 km from Puri. Start early, finish Konark by late morning, and return to Puri for the afternoon.

Can non-Hindus enter the Jagannath Temple in Puri?

No. Only Hindus are allowed inside. Others can see the spire from outside. Rules can change, so check the latest guidance from the temple administration.

What is the best base for Konark: Puri or Bhubaneswar?

Puri is closer and has many hotels at different prices. Bhubaneswar is better if you arrive by flight and want to see the city temples.

When is the best time to see birds at Chilika?

Usually from November to February, when migratory birds are present.

Is there a live darshan of the Konark Sun Temple?

No. Konark is a protected monument with no worship. The live stream on this page is of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, from a third-party channel.

What is Chandrabhaga Mela?

A yearly gathering at Chandrabhaga Beach on Magha Saptami (Ratha Saptami), when devotees take a holy dip at sunrise. In 2027 the date is 13 February, according to a published panchang.

Konark Sun Temple - Complete Guide (6 pages)

• Page 1: History, Story and Architecture
• Page 2: Timings, Tickets and Visit Guide
• Page 3: Places to Visit Near Konark (you are here)
• Page 4: How to Reach Konark
• Page 5: Complete Guide Hub
• Page 6: Fact Check, True or False

Plan your Odisha trip

Flights to BhubaneswarBus to Puri or BhubaneswarHotels (search Puri)

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Sources and further reading

• Odisha Tourism (odishatourism.gov.in)
• Incredible India: Konark Festival 2026 (incredibleindia.gov.in), for the sand art festival and crafts mela
• Dekho Panchang: Ratha Saptami 2027 (dekhopanchang.com)
• Chilika Development Authority (chilika.odisha.gov.in)
• ASI and UNESCO pages on Konark (asimustsee.nic.in, whc.unesco.org)
• Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (jagannath.nic.in) for temple rules
• Live stream: Jay Jagannath TV Hindi on YouTube, a third-party channel