High medieval · Hindu · India

Brihadisvara Temple

பெருவுடையார் கோயில்

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu · 10.7828°, 79.1317°

Shiva (Brihadisvara)CholaDravidaUNESCO World HeritagePaadal Petra Sthalam
Sacred since
1003 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
1003–1010 CE
patron: Rajaraja I

History & significance

The masterpiece of Chola imperial architecture, completed in 1010 CE by Rajaraja I at the height of Chola power. Its 66 m granite vimana was the tallest structure in India for centuries, and its walls carry some of the most detailed temple inscriptions ever cut, recording staff, dancers, and endowments. Part of the UNESCO 'Great Living Chola Temples'.

Sthala katha — the legend

Tradition holds the kalasha capstone weighs 80 tonnes and was hauled up a ramp kilometres long; the temple's shadow is popularly (if inaccurately) said never to fall on the ground at noon.

Reaching there

In Thanjavur city; nearest airport Tiruchirappalli (~60 km), Thanjavur Junction rail.

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Related sites

Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram · India
c. 1035 CE
Airavatesvara Temple
Darasuram, Kumbakonam · India
mid-12th c. CE
Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai · India
current structure largely 16th–17th c.
Ranganathaswamy Temple
Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli · India
built up 10th–17th c.; Rajagopuram 1987
Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Chidambaram · India
core 10th c.; expanded to 13th c.
Shore Temple
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) · India
c. 700–728 CE

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola