Odisha’s Konark wheel replicas find place in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Amrit Udyan

To promote India’s rich heritage and introduce traditional, cultural and historical elements, the Indian government has installed four sandstone replicas of the prestigious Konark wheel at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre.

As per an official statement issued by President Droupadi Murmu’s office, the replicas have also been installed at the Amrit Udyan. The installation of the Konark wheel replicas aims to showcase the country’s rich heritage to everyone who visits the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This is an initiative by the government to introduce India’s traditional, cultural and historical elements in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, an official said.

The Konark wheel represents Lord Surya’s sun chariot and holds cultural, architectural and astronomical significance. It was built in the 13th century during the reign of King Narasimhadeva I. With 9 feet in diameter, the wheel has 8 large spokes and 8 inner spokes.

The 12 wheels reflect the 12 months of the year while the 8 spokes represent the day’s eight prahars.

Not just in Rashtrapati Bhavan, earlier the Konark Sun Temple wheel was featured in the G20 summit that took place in Delhi on September 9th and 10th. 

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Konark Temple and its iconic wheel continue to be celebrated symbols of India’s cultural legacy, reaching international prominence.

Similarly, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna had also unveiled a replica of the wheel at Times Square in New York City. The wheel is also depicted on the back side of the currency notes of Rs 10.