ASI Turns Off Facade Lightning At Konark Sun Temple In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: After receiving flak from several quarters, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) turned off the facade lighting at Sun Temple in Odisha’s Konark.

Noted sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik had tweeted expressing displeasure over the LED lighting system at the 13th-century architectural marvel. “Lines of light appear on the monument when you look at it from a distance at night, spoiling its beauty. I always welcomed steps taken to illuminate Sun Temple, but this arrangement is not helping the cause,” he said while comparing it to an opera party.

Konark Suraksha Samiti had also demanded for removal of the LED lights.

The ASI had attempted to accentuate the temples’ silhouette using simple yellow and static lighting to encourage night-time tourism.

People, however, were not impressed. “The lighting has been arranged to hide the damages to stones. The real shape and the beauty of the temple should instead be enhanced,” said Konark Suraksha Samiti secretary Ramkrushna Mohanty.

Earlier, the Culture Ministry had proposed to take up the illumination of all its 100 Adarsh Smaraks all over India including Sun temple at Konark, Odisha.