18/08/2026
Konark Museum by Archaeological Survey of India. Please do check out the ASI museum on Konark Sun Temple.
Conservation of Konark :
The work was done only through the hole in the pyramidal roof on the western side. The hole was closed after the work of sand filling. To complete the sand filling a 3 inches hole was made vertically from the top by means of a diamond ring. This was 25 inches in length and sand was poured through it with the help of funnel. In the pyramidal roof , two holes of 1 inch by 1 inch dimension were left in the original construction for ventilation. To level the filled up sand a bamboo was used.
The horses of the chariot of the Sun God were exposed and some of the wheels which shows that the temple was meant to represent a Vimana also. Few portion of the plinth and southern flight of steps were exposed. In front of the Jagamohana, remains of the Natmandira was also brought to light. Such clearance work in 1905 CE, revealed for the first time a whole temple complex, as mentioned by Abdul Fazal in Ain-i-Akbari.
In 1906 CE, a large scale plantation of casuarinas and poonang tree in the direction of the sea to check the advance of drifting sand and to minimise the effect of the abrasive action of sand laden winds was taken up. Towards the year 1909 CE, the extant portion of Mayadevi temple was exposed behind the snactuary during the removal of sand and debris. By 1910 CE, the intial task of conservation incorporating all the items essential for rendering the monument stable was completed at a cost of nearly one lakh rupees. Lightning conductors were also provided in the year 1915 CE. In the year 1922 CE, all the major structural repairs have been executed.
Since then, small scale repairs like the clearance of vegetation, resetting of loose stones, pointing and filling in the crevices were effected till 1953. In 1950, the Government of India appointed Committee of Experts on archaeological conservation, engineering, art, architecture, geology and chemistry to evaluate the preservation of the monument and to find out the appropriate measures of conservation. The missing portions of the compound wall were restored to the height of the bottom course of the coping, the damaged portions repaired and the opn joints were pointed. The eastern and southern gateways were thoroughly conserved. The Navagraha architrave was removed to the north-east corner of the enclosure. The removal of stone work from the passage between the sanctum and the porch brought to light the exquisitely carved chlorite door frame. Extensive chemical cleaning and preservation of the facade from top to bottom of the porch has been undertaken.
As a custodian of the monument the ASI is undertaking the conservation and maintainance work following the principles and ethics of the archaeological conservation as and when required.
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