Trip facts
Location
Konark, Puri district, Odisha
Entry Fee (Indian)
₹35 online / ₹40 counter
Entry Fee (Foreign)
₹550 online / ₹600 counter
Children (< 15 yrs)
Free entry
Temple Timings
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Daily)
Guide Charges
₹300 – ₹500 per hour (approx.)
Planning a visit to Odisha's 13th-century UNESCO World Heritage monument? The Konark Sun Temple ticket price for 2026-27 is ₹40 per adult at the offline counter or ₹35 online for Indian, SAARC, and BIMSTEC visitors. Foreign nationals pay ₹600 offline or ₹550 online, while children below 15 years enter free.
Booking digitally via the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) portal—or scanning the QR code posted right beside the counter—saves ₹5 per ticket and lets you walk straight into the dedicated online entry lanes instead of waiting in the cash line. Below is the complete, fact-checked breakdown of entry fees, monument and museum timings, real QR-booking tips from on-ground experience, authorized guide fees, and Light and Sound show rates.
Konark Sun Temple Ticket Prices 2026-27 (Complete Breakdown)
Category
Online / QR Price
Offline Counter
Key Rule
Indian Citizens
₹35
₹40
Max 5 adult tickets per QR transaction
SAARC & BIMSTEC Citizens
₹35
₹40
Carry valid passport or national ID
Foreign Nationals
₹550
₹600
Passport details required during booking
Children (Under 15 Years)
Free
Free
No ticket needed; carry age proof if asked
Still Camera / Smartphone
Free
Free
Drones are strictly prohibited
Light & Sound Show (Arunodya)
~₹30 – ₹50*
~₹30 – ₹50*
Separate ticket; closed on Mondays
ASI Archaeological Museum
—
₹5 – ₹10*
Separate ticket; closed on Fridays
IOCL Interpretation Centre
—
₹30
Free for school & college students
Fact-check note: Main ASI monument entry fees (₹35/₹40 and ₹550/₹600) are standardized across ASI portals, whereas state-managed Light & Sound show tickets and site museum fees can shift slightly with periodic revisions or booking fees. Confirm the live rate at the venue counter or on asi.payumoney.com and odishatourism.gov.in right before your trip.
Konark Sun Temple Timings & Best Time to Visit
The main Konark Sun Temple complex is open all 7 days of the week from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and physical ticket counters generally operate from 6:00 AM until around 7:30 PM. However, neighboring attractions inside the heritage zone follow different weekly off-days:
1. Main Sun Temple Complex: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Open daily, including Mondays and Fridays).
2. ASI Archaeological Site Museum: 9:00 AM / 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed on Fridays).
3. Light & Sound Show (Arunodya): Runs two evening slots—around 7:30 PM & 8:20 PM (March to November) and 6:30 PM & 7:20 PM/7:30 PM (December to February). (Closed on Mondays).
On-site timing tip: Arrive between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM or after 3:30 PM. Even though the gate stays open until 8:00 PM, daylight lets you see the fine stonework on the 24 chariot wheels clearly, and the unshaded sandstone courtyard gets intensely hot at midday once you remove your shoes.
How to Book Konark Sun Temple Tickets Online (Gate QR Walkthrough)
You can book tickets in advance at asi.payumoney.com (linked from asi.nic.in) or right at the entrance using the ASI QR code board. Before heading to the counter, watch our LocalDrive Konark Sun Temple video guide covering the complex, Chandrabhaga Beach, and Ramachandi Temple—then follow the exact gate-side QR booking steps below:
When you walk up to the entrance plaza, the lanes are clearly divided: the offline cash ticket counters sit on the left side, while counters 6 to 9 serve as dedicated entry lanes for online ticket holders. Right beside the offline counter stands an official ASI barcode/QR board. Taking a photo or screenshot of that QR code lets you complete your booking on your phone from the shade instead of standing in line.
Step-by-Step Mobile QR & UPI Booking Process
Step 1: Scan or Open the Screenshot in Any UPI App
Open Amazon Pay, PhonePe, Google Pay, or your phone's scanner. If you snapped a screenshot of the QR board near the counter, tap Scan → Gallery/Image and pick that photo. Allow the official ASI Konark Sun Temple link that appears. (The exact same ASI QR process also works at Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves in Bhubaneswar.)
Step 2: Choose Nationality & Group Size (Max 5 Adults)
Select Indian (or Foreigner / SAARC / BIMSTEC) and pick your adult ticket count. One booking is capped at 5 adult tickets (for example, 2 adult tickets cost ₹70 instead of ₹80; 5 adult tickets cost ₹175 instead of ₹200). If your group has 6 or more adults, finish the first payment and scan the QR code again for the rest. Skip adding children under 15 since they enter free.
Step 3: Fill Visitor Details Including Mobile Number
Enter your Name, Age, valid Email ID, Country Code (+91), and Mobile Number. A common glitch visitors hit is skipping the phone number field—the portal will refuse to proceed to payment unless a mobile number is entered. Carry your original photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, or Voter ID) matching the booking.
Step 4: Approve the UPI Collect Request Manually
Tap Proceed to Pay. You can pay by card or select UPI and enter your UPI ID (such as your mobile number with @apl for Amazon Pay, or your PhonePe/GPay ID). Unlike standard QR checkouts, tapping Pay Now sends a pending collect request to your UPI app rather than auto-switching apps. Open your UPI app manually, go to Pending Transactions (or Notifications), and approve the request.
Step 5: Forward the Downloaded Ticket to WhatsApp
Once approved, your digital QR ticket downloads automatically as a PDF/pass. Immediately share it to your own WhatsApp or a companion's chat. Digging through your phone's Downloads folder under bright coastal sun at the gate scanner wastes time—pulling it up from WhatsApp takes two seconds at counters 6 to 9.
Konark Sun Temple Guide Fees & Hiring Tips
Because the Konark Sun Temple was built as a monumental stone chariot for Surya—with 24 carved wheels acting as sundials and 7 horses pulling the structure—exploring without historical context leaves most of the symbolism unexplained. Unlike entry tickets, tourist guide fees do not have a single fixed government counter price.
Standard Authorized Guide Rate: Licensed guides accredited by the ASI or Odisha Tourism typically charge ₹300 to ₹500 per hour, or roughly ₹400 to ₹800 for a thorough 2-to-3-hour walk covering the main platform, wheels, and sculptures. Rates lean toward the upper end during peak winter months (December–January) or for foreign-language guides.
How to hire safely at the gate:
• Ask to see an official ID badge: Verify an active ASI or Odisha Tourism guide card before agreeing, and ignore unbadged touts around the parking lot.
• Confirm total price and duration upfront: Agree clearly on whether the fee covers your whole group and whether it is a 60-minute highlight walk or a full 2-hour tour.
• Ignore 'special darshan' upsells: Konark Sun Temple is an ASI-protected monument rather than an active worship shrine, so there are no paid VIP darshan tickets inside.
Light & Sound Show, Museum, Parking & On-Site Costs
To budget accurately for a half-day trip from Puri or Bhubaneswar, keep these on-site charges in mind:
• Light & Sound Show (Arunodya): Around ₹30 to ₹50 per person (booked separately at the venue or via odishatourism.gov.in / bookodisha.com). Wireless headphones provide narration in English, Hindi, and Odia. Remember the show is closed on Mondays.
• IOCL Interpretation Centre (Arka Kshetra): Right next to the complex; ₹30 per person (free for school and college students). Features air-conditioned galleries, scale models of the original sanctum, and a 15-minute 3D animated history film—ideal if you visit during warm afternoon hours.
• Parking Fees (Main / Interpretation Centre Lot, up to 2 hours): ₹10 for two/three-wheelers, ₹20 for cars/four-wheelers, and ₹50 for tourist buses.
• Battery Eco-Carts: Electric carts ferry visitors along the ~500–700 meter approach road between the parking/counter zone and temple gate for roughly ₹10 to ₹20 per person per way.
• Shoe Stand & Wheelchairs: Footwear is prohibited on the stone plinth; shoe stands near the gate are free to ₹10 (carry cotton socks if walking midday). Free wheelchairs are available at the IOCL Interpretation Centre and designated drop-off points.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I book Konark Sun Temple tickets online on the same day?
Yes. You can book same-day tickets on asi.payumoney.com or by scanning the ASI QR board posted beside the offline ticket counter right before entering.
Why is the online ticket ₹35 instead of ₹40?
The Archaeological Survey of India gives a digital discount—₹5 off for Indian, SAARC, and BIMSTEC citizens (₹35 online vs. ₹40 offline) and ₹50 off for foreign nationals (₹550 online vs. ₹600 offline)—to shorten counter queues.
How many tickets can I buy in one online booking?
You can book up to 5 adult tickets per transaction (₹175 for 5 Indian adults). Groups of 6 or more simply complete a second booking using the same link or QR code.
Is the Konark Sun Temple open on Mondays and Fridays?
Yes, the main Sun Temple is open daily from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Only the Light & Sound Show closes on Mondays, and the ASI Archaeological Museum closes on Fridays.
Are cameras or drones allowed inside the monument?
Hand-held still cameras and smartphones are free for personal photography. Commercial tripods require prior ASI permission, and drones are strictly banned over the UNESCO site.
Related guides on LocalDrive: Explore the history and legends in Konark Sun Temple: Odisha's Timeless Marvel of Art, Faith & Heritage, or check the Puri Jagannath Temple Dress Code & Visitor Rules if you are combining Puri and Konark on the same drive.
