The magnificent 13th century Sun Temple at Konark is the culmination of Orissan temple architecture, and one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Indian Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore said of Konark that 'here the language of stone surpasses the language of man'. The temple was close to the shore at one time to be used as a navigational point by European sailors, who referred to it as sun god, Surya, across the heavens. Puri is one of the four holiest and celebrated Hindu religious centers of India and the abode of Lord Jagannath whose effigy is dragged on huge carts at an annual festival, the Rath Yatra (Car Festival), and which gave rise to the word ‘Juggernaut’.
