Excavations led by the State Archaeology Department in the Ganjam district of Odisha have brought to light a significant 10th-century temple dedicated to the Sun God. The structure, attributed to the Somavamsi dynasty, features a unique circular foundation representing the 'Dharma Chakra' with twenty-four intricately carved stone spokes still remarkably intact despite being buried for nearly a millennium.
Archaeologists believe the temple served as a critical secondary pilgrimage site linked to the early evolution of Kalinga architecture, predating the more famous Konark Sun Temple. The site has also yielded rare chlorite statues of Surya and his consorts, showing the masterful transition from early rock-cut traditions to the sophisticated structural stone temples of the medieval period.