ASI begins drilling into Konark Sun Temple to remove 100-year-old British-era sand

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun drilling into the Jagamohan (assembly hall) of the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple in Odisha to extract san...

What Happened

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has begun drilling into the Jagamohan (assembly hall) of the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple in Odisha to extract sand that was filled inside the structure by British archaeologists between 1901 and 1904.
The British engineers filled the interior with sand to prevent structural collapse after the original shikhara (main tower) had already fallen; the sand was intended as a temporary stabilisation measure that remained in place for over 120 years.
A nine-metre borehole with a diameter of approximately 16 centimetres was drilled from the western face of the Jagamohan wall (approximately 8 metres thick) using zero-vibration diamond drilling equipment to avoid damage to the historic stone.
Technical support is being provided by IIT Madras; sand samples sent to IIT Madras for testing confirmed that removal is structurally safe.
The operation plans to use robotic trolleys for sand extraction and is expected to take approximately three months.

Static Topic Bridges

Konark Sun Temple — Architecture, History and UNESCO Status

The Konark Sun Temple (also rendered Konarak) is a 13th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the sun god Surya, located approximately 35 km northeast of Puri on the Odisha coastline. It was built during the reign of Narasimhadeva I (r. 1238–1264 CE) of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

The temple is designed in the form of a colossal chariot of the sun god, with 24 carved stone wheels (each approximately 9 feet 9 inches in diameter) and seven horses — symbolic of the seven days of the week and the 24 hours of the day.
The temple marks the zenith of the Kalinga (Odisha) style of Nagara architecture, a regional variant of North Indian temple architecture characterised by a curvilinear shikhara over the sanctum (vimana).
The vimana (main tower) collapsed, likely in the 17th century; the surviving structure is primarily the Jagamohan (porch/assembly hall) and the Natmandir (dance hall).
Konark was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Connection to this news: The structural complexity and UNESCO heritage status of the temple make the sand-removal exercise a carefully calibrated conservation operation — the sand that stabilised the Jagamohan for 122 years must now be removed to allow deeper structural restoration.

Archaeological Survey of India — Role and Conservation Mandate

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), established in 1861 under the Government of India, is the apex body for archaeological research and heritage conservation in the country. It functions under the Ministry of Culture.

ASI operates under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act), which prohibits construction within 100 metres of a protected monument and regulated areas within 200 metres.
ASI maintains over 3,600 centrally protected monuments and archaeological sites across India.
The AMASR (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 further tightened prohibitions on construction near protected monuments.
For UNESCO World Heritage Sites, any major conservation intervention must also comply with the World Heritage Convention (1972), to which India is a signatory (ratified 1977), and typically requires notification to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.

Connection to this news: The Konark sand-removal project is a significant conservation milestone — ASI, working with IIT Madras, is applying modern structural engineering to undo a century-old colonial-era intervention, demonstrating the evolution of heritage conservation practices.

Kalinga Architecture — Distinctive Features

Kalinga architecture refers to the distinctive temple building tradition of Odisha (historically Kalinga), developed between the 7th and 13th centuries. It represents one of the most coherent regional schools of Hindu temple architecture.

Kalinga temples are classified into three types: Rekha Deula (curvilinear tower over the garbhagriha/sanctum), Pidha Deula (pyramidal structure used for jagamohan/porch), and Khakhara Deula (elongated curved roof, used for shrines of Chamunda and Durga).
The Konark temple combines a Rekha Deula (now collapsed) with a Pidha Deula (surviving Jagamohan) — making its partial survival illustrative of the architectural typology.
Other important examples of Kalinga architecture: Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar (11th century), Jagannath Temple in Puri (12th century).
The sculptural programme at Konark is celebrated for its erotic and cosmic imagery, representing the cycle of time and the power of the sun.

Connection to this news: Understanding Kalinga architecture is essential context for appreciating why the Jagamohan's structural integrity matters — it is the sole major surviving element of one of the greatest examples of Indian temple architecture.

Key Facts & Data

Konark Sun Temple: Built by Narasimhadeva I (1238–1264 CE), Eastern Ganga dynasty.
UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription: 1984.
Location: ~35 km northeast of Puri, Odisha; on the Bay of Bengal coast.
Sand filling by British archaeologists: 1901–1904, to prevent structural collapse.
Duration sand has been in place: ~122 years.
Drilling method: Zero-vibration diamond drilling; 16 cm diameter borehole, 9 m depth.
Jagamohan wall thickness: Approximately 8 metres.
Technical partner: IIT Madras (structural and sand analysis).
Sand removal method: Robotic trolleys for extraction.
Estimated project duration: Approximately 3 months.
ASI established: 1861; operates under AMASR Act, 1958.
India ratified UNESCO World Heritage Convention: 1977.
Konark's 24 wheels symbolise the 24 hours in a day; 7 horses symbolise the 7 days of the week.