THE NAME KONARK IS MADE OF 2 SANSKRIT WORDS – KONA, MEANING CORNAER & ARKA, MEANING SUN. THE TOWN GETS ITS NAME FROM ITS GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION WHICH MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THE SUN RISES AT AN ANGLE. THE HISTORY OF KONARK SUN TEMPLE, HOWEVER, WAS BUILT IN THE 13TH CENTURY. THE HISTORIC REGION OF KALINGA WHICH COMPROMISES MAJOR PARTS OF MODERN-DAY ODISHA AND SEVERAL PARTS OF CHHATISGARH,ANDHRA PRADESH, AND WEST BENGAL, WAS RULED BY THE RULERS OF THE EASTERN GANGA DYNASTY FROM 5TH CENTURY AD TO 15TH CENTURY AD. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL DYNASTIES IN INDIA WHIC GAVE EXISTENCE TO THE MAJESTIC TEMPLES LIKE KONARK SUN TEMPLE AND JAGAGNNATH TEMPLE. THE KONARK TEMPLE WAS BUILT BY NARASIHMA DEVA 1 IN 1244 TO WORSHIP SURYA, THE SUN GOD. KONARK WAS CHOSEN AS ITS PLACE OF CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE HOLY SEAT OF SURYA IN VARIOUS ANCIENT TEXTS.