Stock Photo - Konark Sun Temple, Orissa, India Detail of stone carving on temple exterior The Sun Temple marks the zenith of Orissa´s temple architecture It is a UNESCO world heritage monument Built by King Narasimhadeva in the 13th century to mark his victory over the Mughal invaders, the Konark Temple is a colossal structure that now stands in ruins amidst the shifting sands The Temple is raised on a platform and is built in the shape of a celestial chariot for carrying Surya, the Sun God, across the heavens Seven horses pull the chariot, with twelve wheels on either side These symbolize the divisions of time The seven horses representing the number of days in a week, each wheel representing an hour or a fortnight The porch jagmohana is 120 feet tall and is adorned with tableaux drawn from the lives of the ordinary and the royal men There are images of Gods and Goddesses, mythical creatures with non-human features, dancers and musicians, women and men socializing at many levels that are carved of soft and weathered Khondalite Three contrasting images of Surya are carved out metallic green chlorite stone to convey a state of equilibrium The temple complex also has three subsidiary temples: The Vaishnava Temple and the Mayadevi Temple are the two surviving shrines in the temple complex The other surviving structure is the Natya Mandira dance hall where the Devdasis performed to appease the gods