Brihadeeswarar Temple

Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, also known as the Big Temple or Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest achievements of South Indian temple architecture. Built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja I between 1003 and 1010 CE, the temple was the largest in India at the time of its completion and remains a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture. The vimana (tower over the sanctum) rises to a height of 66 metres and is topped by a monolithic granite capstone weighing approximately 80 tonnes, the mechanics of whose placement continue to fascinate historians and engineers. The shadow of the vimana is said never to fall on the ground at noon. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Brihadeeswara and houses one of the largest Shivalingas in India. The walls are covered in extraordinary Chola-period murals and sculptures depicting deities, Shiva's aspects, and scenes from the epics. The temple complex also contains shrines to Goddess Brihannayaki, the Nandi bull, and various other deities. It forms part of the Great Living Chola Temples UNESCO inscription along with the Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temples.