indiatourismtoday

The Great Living Chola Temple UNESCO World Heritage


Chola Temple

Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu

The Chola temple is situated in Tamil Nadu. The Great Living Chola temples of Tamil Nadu was built under the Chola rule. The Chola Temples Tamilnadu shows the arts and architecture of Chola. The site comprises three great chola temples of 11th and 12th centuries; these temples are Brihadisvara Temple of Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple of Darasuram and Airavatesvara Temple of Darasuram. These Great Living Chola Temples are based on Dravida Architecture.

Brihadisvara Temple

Brihadisvara Temple of Thanjavur

Built by Chola emperor Rajaraja in early 10th century, the Peruvudaiyar Kovil - Brihadeeswarar Temple Thanjavur is made of Granite. Brihadisvara Temple of Thanjavur is bounded by two rectangular areas. The outer wall of temple is high, defining the temple compound region.The compound has is the gigantic gopuram or entrance mentioned. It is crowned by 13-storey pyramidal tower- the Vimana. Within this a entrance, a drum arched gorpuram with over 400 pillars, is together with this by a high wall mixed together with vast gopurams axially lined up to the main temple.

The great Nandi is major attraction in the temple. It weights about 27 tonnes. It is believed thet Nandi is continuously growing day by day. Brihadeeswarar temple has many another shrines such as Sri Subramanya and several other small shrines.

Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple

The Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple of Darasuram is was built by Rajendra I, son of Rajaraja in 1035.

Airateswara Temple

Airateswara Temple is a Dravidian architecture situated in the township of Darasuram, close to Kumbakonam in Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Airateswara Temple Tamil Nadu, built by Rajaraja II in the 12th century.


Chola Temple

UNESCO Recognition

Brihadisvara Temple- 1987
Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple- 2004
Airateswara Temple- 2004

Architecture

Dravida

Entry Charges

Free

How to reach

Thanjavur

Nearest Airport- Trichy, 65 km from Thanjavur.
Nearest Railhead- Thanjavur(well connected with Trichy, Chennai, Madurai and Nagore)
By Road:Well connected by roads to Tamil Nadu, Kochi, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore)

Darasuram

nearest airport- Trichy.
Nearest Railhead- Trichy.
By Road-5 kms from Kumbakonam 35 kms from Thanjavur.