Brihadisvara Temple

Why Brihadisvara Temple in Tamil Nadu State is special
Of India's many acclaimed temples, this is one of the biggest and most significant.

Top attraction of the Brihadisvara Temple
Vimana
This temple tower (see left side of photo) soars 66 meters (217 feet) and is crowned with a striking bulbous cupola.

More Brihadisvara Temple tips & insights
History in brief
It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and was conceived by Rajaraja Chola, the most celebrated ruler of the powerful Chola Dynasty that ruled southern India up until the 13th century.

He took a great personal interest in helping choose the architectural and decorative designs. He was able to see his masterpiece completed in 1010, several years before he died.

Brihadisvara Temple recently (2010) celebrated its 1,000th birthday.

Granite
The structure was built mainly with humongous granite blocks weighing up to 80 tons. Because there were no suitable local granite sources, the blocks had to be quarried and transported from afar. Moreover, these heavy, cumbersome masses were somehow lifted into place with engineering equipment and techniques that would seem to have been inadequate in south India at the time.

Location in India