NDTV.com
KONARK, INDIA, November 30, 2003: Restoration work is on at the famous Sun Temple at Konark in India but conserving heritage and keeping the old look alive doesn’t seem too easy. Broken pieces of carved stones that once formed part of the temple have been ignored since the conservation work on the 13th century temple began 100 years ago. They are finally in demand for the first phase of restoration work. The method used in the restoration work is one that will help preserve the ancient temple in all its glory, according to KJ Luka, a conservationist with the Archaeological Survey of India. In the last 10 years, the world heritage monument has got a facelift. The surface has been thoroughly cleaned and is no longer a Black Pagoda as 19th century mariners described it. But there is a lot that needs to be done. The seaside monument devoted to the Sun God is known for its magnificent design, exquisite carvings and erotic sculptures and draws millions of tourists every year. But the tragedy of the temple is that 100 years after the first steps were taken to preserve this glorious monument, it’s still a crumbling ruin.