Brihadeeswara Temple - Tamilnadu - Monuments
The Brihadeeswara temple is one of the most wonderful monuments in the country. Built during the 11th century, this historical marvel was dedicated to the worship of the Hindu god, Lord Shiva. It is the perfect illustration achieved by the Chola kings in architecture and engineering.
Specialty :
The Brihadeeswara temple was built by the greatest among the Chola kings, King Raja Raja Chola at Tanjore to pay homage to Lord Shiva. One of the factors that make this temple a wonder is the magnificent tower of the temple that is 66 meters in height. The whole temple structure was built out of granite. The wonder is that no granite quarry was found anywhere within a 100 mile radius of the temple and transport in those days was a strenuous effort.
This mighty monument was designed and engineered by the King Raja Raja Cholan himself. Standing as one among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a trip to southern India is believed to be incomplete without visiting this heritage site. A huge bolder is placed on the top of the sanctum tower to make the enormous amount of positive radiation reflect inside the sanctum itself. A huge sculpture of Nandi stands guard before the temple.
The specialty of this Nandi was that it was built out of a single stone structure. The temple is over 1000 years old and is regarded as an ode to the great Chola reign in southern India. The interior and exterior of this monument is riddled with intricate sculptures and architectural designs. This monument is thronged by tourists throughout the year who come to visit the fascinating display of work on the walls and is revered as one of a religious destination by Hindus.
How To Reach:
Air The nearest airport is the Tiruchirapalli international airport which is situated at a distance of 58 kilometers from the monument.
By Rail The Tanjore railway station is at a distance of 2 kilometers from the monument and connects the city with the rest of the world.
By Road There are many state buses available to reach the monument. You can also rent a car to reach the monument.