Konark Sun Temple enters a decisive phase of conservation as the Archaeological Survey of India begins the sensitive process of removing sand from its sealed sanctum sanctorum after 122 years. A 4 ft by 4 ft tunnel has been opened on the western side of the sanctum’s first platform to enable controlled access and technical assessment.
Customary rituals were completed before a 17-inch core drilling was carried out to study the strength and thickness of the stone wall. The operation is being led by ASI officials, including Superintending Archaeologist D. B. Garnayak and Regional Director Dilip Khamari, with support from a 10-member expert team.
Earlier studies by the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, using laser scanning, endoscopic tools, and robotic cameras revealed nearly 17 feet of compacted sand still inside the chamber and unstable iron beams and stones supporting the roof. The British administration had originally filled the sanctum with sand and stones in 1903 to prevent structural collapse.
Following an international workshop in 2011 and subsequent judicial and institutional review, a high-level decision in 2020 cleared the sand removal plan. The current operation is expected to yield crucial data on the internal stability of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and guide the next phase of structural conservation.
