Which famous Indian temple is popularly known by the name Black Pagoda because of its dark appearance and coastal location?

Introduction / Context:
Some famous Indian temples are known not only by their formal names but also by popular nicknames that arose from their appearance or location. The term Black Pagoda is one such nickname and often appears in history and tourism related exam questions. This question asks you to identify which temple is popularly called Black Pagoda, testing your knowledge of Indian architectural heritage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The nickname given is Black Pagoda.- Several famous temples from different regions of India are listed as options.- We assume awareness of coastal temple landmarks on the eastern shore of India.

Concept / Approach:
The Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha is popularly known as the Black Pagoda. Historical accounts suggest that sailors on the Bay of Bengal used the dark colored tower of this temple as a landmark during navigation and referred to it as Black Pagoda. By contrast, the Jagannath Temple at Puri has at times been called the White Pagoda. Brihadeeshwara, Meenakshi and Lingaraja temples are important structures but do not carry the Black Pagoda nickname. Therefore, the correct answer is the Sun Temple at Konark.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that Konark Sun Temple is located on the coast of Odisha and was historically visible to ships sailing nearby.2. Remember that its dark stone construction and towering shikhara led sailors to refer to it as the Black Pagoda.3. Compare this with Jagannath Temple at Puri, which has been termed the White Pagoda.4. Note that Brihadeeshwara Temple at Thanjavur, Meenakshi Temple at Madurai and Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar are all inland or have different architectural contexts and nicknames.5. Select Sun Temple at Konark as the temple known as Black Pagoda.

Verification / Alternative check:
Tourism literature and history texts frequently mention that European sailors referred to the Konark Sun Temple as Black Pagoda and the Puri Jagannath Temple as White Pagoda. These nicknames were based on the visual appearance of the temples when approached from the sea. Such consistent references across multiple sources confirm that Black Pagoda refers specifically to the Sun Temple at Konark.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Brihadeeshwara Temple at Thanjavur: also known as the Big Temple, but not commonly called Black Pagoda.- Meenakshi Temple at Madurai: famous for its gopurams and sculptures, but no standard reference calls it Black Pagoda.- Jagannath Temple at Puri: more often referred to as the White Pagoda, forming a pair with Konark's Black Pagoda in maritime accounts.- Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar: an important Shaivite temple, but not known by the Black Pagoda nickname.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical confusion arises between Konark and Puri temples because both are in Odisha and both were landmarks for sailors. Remembering that the darker Konark Sun Temple is the Black Pagoda and the Puri Jagannath Temple is the White Pagoda helps to resolve this. Another pitfall is assuming that any large temple in South India might be the one in question. To avoid such errors, link the word Pagoda in this context with coastal navigation and the specific duo of temples used as visual markers by ships on the Bay of Bengal.

Final Answer:
The famous Indian temple known as the Black Pagoda is the Sun Temple at Konark.