Brihadeeswarar Temple

It was constructed between 1003 and 1010 under the reign of Rajaraja I, founder of the Chola Empire which covered all of southern India and neighboring areas, and was built to be a royal temple showing the power of the emperor. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The wall surrounding the temple is crowned by a multitude of bulls since this animal is the vehicle of Shiva . After construction it was expanded to other structures until the 17th century. It is constructed of granite and bricks and unlike most temples of South India is painted in colors.There is a tower 30 meters high and ceiling paintings are lovely and very well maintained, inside there is a statue of the bull Nandi, 25 tons, is one of the biggest statues of Nandi existing in India and is carved in 1 piece.

Thanjavur is one of the most commercial cities of the Kaveri delta. It is famous because it has the Brihadishwara Temple, built to reflect the power of the King Rajaraja the First, which itself was intended to "facilitate the work of Shiva". No less than 400 dancers devadasis ("slave of the gods") were employed and lived in a house. Another 200 people, including dance teachers, musicians, sandpipers, jewelers, carpenters, astrologers, accountants ... were hired for rituals and processions. The Nandi (sacred bull) largest bronze India, was in also housed here. The temple has more surprises, like the an elephant figure that receives and blesses you at the door.

We came to this temple from Trichy, which is where we were staying. It is temple from the civilization of chola that dates back to the S.XI. What impressed me the most about this site is the vastness of the place and the tranquility that reigned there. Upon entering the temple, on the outer door of the temple there is an elephant that welcomes you and blesses upi (after payment of any currency). Once you have passed through the front door, you meet a Inmes temple courtyard in the middle.

I had a wonderful experience here. This temple was well-known for its unique architecture and this consists of a main vimana which is 66 meters height entirely built using hard rocks.