Multi-Pronged Search for Palaeo-Channels near Konark Temple, Odisha - Implications for the Mythical River Chandrabhaga

Abstract

The 13th century CE Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha, India, is believed to have been built at the mouth of an ancient river named Chandrabhaga. This mythical river figures prominently in ancient literature, although at present no river exists in the proximity of the Konark Sun Temple. This study investigates the possibility of existence of a 'lost' river system near Konark through integrated geological and geophysical exploration in conjunction with historical evidence. Landsat, Aster Terra Look and Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission images have been used to identify and delineate the channel of an ancient river. A number of thematic maps have been generated and analysed in analytical hierarchy process and later integrated on a GIS platform to delineate the most probable trace of a palaeo-channel. The existence of a palaeo-channel at some locations is further corroborated through shallow surface geophysics using ground penetrating radar. The identified palaeochannel passes north of the Konark Sun Temple, extending approximately parallel to the coast.