How many years and how many craftsmen worked to complete the Konark temple ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
The Konark Sun Temple, a monumental 13th-century structure in Odisha, is widely regarded as the zenith of Kalinga architecture, commissioned by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. According to established local tradition and historical accounts commonly cited in reference to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the immense effort to construct this gigantic chariot for the Sun God Surya required a dedicated period of **12 years**. To manage a project of such scale, which involved carving intricate details across the entire structure, the King reportedly employed a massive and highly skilled workforce of **1200 craftsmen** (or *shilpis*). This specific combination of time and labour force is the benchmark representation of the colossal human effort necessary for the temple's legendary completion.

The incorrect option is 1:
The combination of 21 years and 1500 craftsmen is not the historically or traditionally accepted figure for the Konark temple's construction. While major temples in India often took many years to complete, 21 years is significantly longer than the 12-year period that has been recorded in the temple's lore. Similarly, while 1500 craftsmen represents a large workforce, it does not match the specific number cited in the most commonly accepted accounts regarding King Narasimhadeva I's project. This option attempts to misdirect by using large, but incorrect, figures.

The incorrect option is 3:
Stating that the work took 16 years and involved 1000 craftsmen is inconsistent with the traditional narrative of Konark. The 16-year duration overestimates the generally agreed-upon construction timeframe. Furthermore, 1000 craftsmen is a numerical mismatch for the traditional figure of the workforce involved. For exam purposes, students must recall the specific and famous pair of numbers associated with this particular temple: 12 years of construction and 1200 workers.

The incorrect option is 4:
The duration of 08 years and a workforce of 820 craftsmen significantly underestimates both the time and the scale of the human resources required for the Sun Temple's construction. Given the sheer size and complexity of the Konark temple, which involved transporting and meticulously carving massive stone blocks into the shape of a colossal chariot, a period of only 8 years is far too short to be considered historically accurate by any standard account. Therefore, this option represents an insufficient scale for the undertaking.