Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur
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The great Shiva temple built by the Chola king Rajaraja I, part of the UNESCO-listed Great Living Chola Temples.
TempleThanjavur, Thanjavur districtBest time to visit: October to MarchUNESCO heritage 1987
Highlights
- The towering vimana (tower) over the sanctum, topped by a huge stone cupola
- A large monolithic Nandi facing the shrine
- Chola frescoes and inscriptions on the temple walls
- Sister temples at Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram, also part of the World Heritage Site
Significance
Completed in 1010 CE under Rajaraja I, it is a high point of Chola architecture and is still a living place of worship. It was inscribed in 1987; the site was extended in 2004 to include the other two Chola temples.