Thanjavur

 

 

 

 

The Brihadeeswara Temple here is one of the best temples in South India, built by Cholaemperor Raja Raja 1(985-1013 AD). This is the Chola dynasty's finest contribution to Dravidianart. The construction is unique: the vimanam, known as Dakshina Meru, soars high while thegopuram remains stunted. The 64.8-metre-tall, 14-tier and pyramid-shaped vimanam rises froma square base and is topped by a huge monolithic cupola weighing 81.3 tonnes. The shadow ofthe cupola never falls on the ground.

Brihadeeswara is a gigantic Lingam (about 8.7 metres high). There is a massive Nandi at theportals of the temple. It is the second largest monolithic Nandi in the country, next only to thecolossal Bull at the Lepakshi Veerabhadra temple in Andhra Pradesh.

The divine consort, Brihannayaki, is in a separate shrine. The shrine of Lord Subramanya is anexquisite piece of decorative art.

There are excellent sculptures of Siva in different forms and other gods and goddesses besidesseveral interesting Chola paintings.

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Thanjavur

Access:

The nearest airport is Tiruchi (60 km); Chidambaram 113 km; Kanniyakumari 394 km;Kumbakonam 38 km; Chennai 310 km; Madurai 159 km; Rameswaram 222 km.

Around Thanjavur

Bangaru Kamakshi Amman temple (2 km): The presiding deity is a gold idol in standingposture. This idol was originally in the Kanchipuram Kamakshi temple. During Muslim invasion,the Devi idol was shifted to Thanjavur. Sri Shyama Sastri, one of the Trinity of Carnatic Music,had performed puja in this temple.

Mariamman temple (6 km): It is situated at Punnainallur on the outskirts of Thanjavur.

 

Map

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