Side entrance at Thanjavur Big Temple. The Great Chola Temples of
southern India are an exceptional testimony to the development of the
architecture and the ideology of the Chola Empire and the Tamil
civilization in southern India. They represent an outstanding creative
achievement in the architectural conception of the pure form of the
Dravida type of temple (characterized by a pyramidal tower). The great
temple of Tanjore was built in a few years, from 1003 to 1010, during
the reign of the great king Rajaraja (985-1014), the true founder of the
Chola Empire, which spread throughout the whole of southern India, part
of ancient Ceylon and the Maldive and Laccadive archipelagos
Wall panel at the Thanjavur Big Temple. The Brahadeewarar temple at
Thanjavur, called the Big Temple, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was
built by the great Chola King Raja Raja I (985 -1012 A.D). It is an
outstanding exmple of Chola architecture. Recognizing its unique
architectural excellence, UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage
Monument as "Great Living Chola Temples". The temple structure is of
granite. The 64.8 m vimanam (tower over the sanctum sanctorum) is
testimony to the engineering skill of the Cholas. It is a jewel among of
the four great Chola temples. The others are at Gangai Konda
Cholapuram, Darasuram and Thirubhuvanam
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