Open
Sunrise to sunset
Seven days a week, no weekly closure
Travel Guide
Konark Sun Temple Timings, Entry Fee and Visiting Tips
Konark is an ASI monument rather than a working temple, which changes how you plan a visit: there are tickets, fixed hours, and a light and sound show in the evening. It also means the single biggest factor in whether you enjoy it is the angle of the sun when you arrive.
Travel planning
Konark Sun Temple Timings, Entry Fee and Visiting Tips
Konark is an ASI monument rather than a working temple, which changes how you plan a visit: there are tickets, fixed hours, and a light and sound show in the evening. It also means the single biggest factor in whether you enjoy it is the angle of the sun when you arrive.
Request complete quote Call +91 93484 38989
Availability, route, timing, vehicle, fare, and inclusions are confirmed for your exact request.
Indian visitors
₹40
Same rate for SAARC and BIMSTEC citizens
Foreign visitors
₹600
ASI rate, checked August 2026
Light show
Extra ticket
Around ₹30, evening timings vary by season
1
Opening hours and tickets
The monument is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, with no weekly closing day — which makes it easier to plan around than the zoo at Nandankanan or a working temple. Tickets are sold at the venue and can also be bought through the Archaeological Survey of India website. At the time of writing, entry is ₹40 for Indian nationals, with the same rate applying to visitors from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries, and ₹600 for other foreign nationals. These are ASI charges rather than ours, and they do change, so treat the figures as a guide and confirm before you travel.
- Sunrise to sunset, every day of the week.
- Tickets at the gate or in advance through the ASI website.
- Children below a certain age are generally admitted free — check the current rule.
- Entry charges are set by ASI and can change without much notice.
2
The light and sound show
A light and sound show runs in the evening and needs a separate ticket, typically around ₹30. The start times shift with the season because they follow sunset: later in the summer months, earlier through the winter. Two showings are usually scheduled each evening. It is worth knowing that the show happens after the monument itself has closed, so it is an addition to a Konark trip rather than a substitute for seeing the temple in daylight.
- A separate, inexpensive ticket from the monument entry.
- Evening start times follow sunset and change between summer and winter.
- Usually two showings per evening.
- It runs after monument hours — you still need daylight for the carvings.
3
Time your visit for the carvings, not the queue
Konark is not a place where the queue decides your experience. The carving is. The temple is essentially a colossal stone chariot, and its surfaces are covered in relief work that only reads properly when the light is raking across it. Late afternoon is generally the most rewarding time, with early morning a close second. Midday sun flattens everything and, on the exposed stone platform, is genuinely unpleasant from March through to the monsoon. There is very little shade on site.
- Late afternoon light shows the relief carving best; early morning is second.
- Midday flattens the detail and the platform gets extremely hot.
- Shade is minimal — carry water, and a hat in summer.
- Allow at least an hour and a half to walk the complex without rushing.
4
Combining Konark with the rest of the coast
Konark sits between Puri and the Bhubaneswar road, which is why it is almost always visited as part of something larger rather than on its own. The Marine Drive between Puri and Konark is a genuinely pleasant stretch, and Chandrabhaga beach is a short distance from the monument. The common patterns are a day circuit from Bhubaneswar taking in Puri and Konark together, or a shorter Puri-to-Konark round trip when you are already staying on the coast. If you are arriving straight from a flight, a direct airport transfer to Konark also works.
- Chandrabhaga beach is close by and easily added.
- The Puri–Konark Marine Drive is worth taking rather than avoiding.
- A Bhubaneswar day circuit usually covers Puri and Konark together.
- From Puri alone, a half-day round trip is enough.
5
Practical notes
Guides are available at the site and, unusually, are worth considering here — the carvings carry a lot of narrative that is easy to walk past unexplained. Photography of the monument is permitted, though specific restrictions can apply and are posted on site. Parking sits away from the entrance and the last stretch is on foot, which is worth knowing if anyone in your group has limited mobility. During peak season and holidays the approach roads get congested, and an early start avoids most of it.
- Licensed guides are available at the site and add a lot here.
- Parking is set back; expect a short walk to the entrance.
- Approach roads congest during holidays and peak season.
- Entry and show tickets are third-party charges, not part of any cab fare.
FAQ
Konark Sun Temple Timings, Entry Fee and Visiting Tips questions
The answers separate confirmed booking scope from facts that still depend on your date, itinerary, and vehicle.
What are the Konark Sun Temple timings?
The monument is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, with no weekly closing day. The evening light and sound show runs separately, after the monument itself has closed.
What is the entry fee at Konark Sun Temple?
At the time of writing, ₹40 for Indian nationals and visitors from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries, and ₹600 for other foreign nationals. These are ASI charges and can change, so confirm the current rate before you travel.
Is the light and sound show worth it?
It is a separate low-cost ticket and runs in the evening after monument hours, with start times that follow sunset. It works as an addition to a Konark visit, not a replacement for seeing the carvings in daylight.
What is the best time of day to visit?
Late afternoon, when the low sun brings out the relief carving. Early morning is the next best. Midday flattens the detail and the stone platform becomes very hot for much of the year.
How long should I allow at Konark?
At least an hour and a half to walk the complex properly, more if you take a guide. Add travel time and any beach stop when planning the wider day.
Continue planning
Bhubaneswar to Konark taxi
The direct road transfer from the city.
Open pageKonark destination guide
The wider area around the monument.
Open pagePuri to Konark round trip
A half-day trip if you are staying in Puri.
Open pageBhubaneswar Airport to Konark taxi
Arriving at Konark straight from a flight.
Open pageBook in under a minute
Ready to ride with BBSR CABS?
Get a fixed, fixed quote right now — for airport transfers, local rides, or outstation trips across Odisha. No app, no surge, no surprises.