India: Thanjavur – Brihadeeswara Temple

And last by not least is the third Chola temple – Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur – truly the grandest and most spectacular tactile of the three! Built by Emperor Rajaraja I between 1003-1010 it’s also the oldest Chola temple. The temple was constructed to celebrate the Chola empire’s dominance and devotion to Shiva. Its name, “Brihadeeswara,” translates to “Great Lord”. At the entrance, a 16-foot-long, 13-foot-high monolithic Nandi (Shiva’s bull) carved from a single granite block weighs approximately 25 tons. It is one of the largest Nandi statues in India. The temple’s most striking feature is its 216-foot (66m) vimana tower, one of the tallest of its kind in the world. Capped with an 80-ton monolithic granite cupola, it is a marvel of engineering, as the single stone was likely hauled up a ramp to be placed atop the tower. The inner sanctum houses a massive 12-foot-tall lingam, representing Shiva. The walls and corridors feature detailed sculptures of deities, celestial beings, and scenes from Hindu mythology. The temple was built entirely of granite, sourced from quarries over 50 km away, as granite – one of the hardest stones – was meticulously cut and assembled without mortar. The complex includes smaller shrines dedicated to deities like Parvati, Ganesha, Subrahmanya, and Chandikeshwara, added during later periods.