Chola Temples

A collection of three granite temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, these are located in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. Built during the 10^th through the 12 century, they are called as the ‘Great Living Chola Temples’ and also declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Among the three temples on site, the most famous is the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, and was the first one to get the status of World Heritage Site in 1987. It was later in 2004, when the other two temples, Brihadeeswarar Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvarar were also added to the list collectively.

The temple at Thanjavur was named after the then Chola emperor, Rajesvara Peruvudaiyar. It is considered to be a landmark in the evolution of art building in India. The intricately carved sculptures on the walls, and a temple tower measuring 216 ft high is considered to be the tallest of its kinds in the world.

The Khumbha, or the apex of the temples is said to have been carved from a single massive stone. At the entrance you’ll find a huge statue of Nandi the Bull, which has also been carved from a single stone. There are many such structure that keep the attention of all onlookers clutched to the temples.

Nestling among the peaceful ambiance of a quaint town, Thanjavur, tourists enjoy exploring the history of the Chola rule in India by understanding these temples.

The town of Thanjavur is well connected with other parts of the state. The nearest major city is Chennai, at 332 km from here. You can easily reach Chennai by flight and train, and from there you can hire taxis or even take a bus to reach Thanjavur.