Brihadeeswara Temple , also known as Brahadeeswara Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the city of Thanjavur (formerly known as Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu, India. It was built in the 11th century during the Chola dynasty by Emperor Raja Raja Chola I. The temple is a prominent example of Dravidian architecture and is considered to be one of the largest and most magnificent temples in India. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is locally known as “Thanjai Periya Kovil” means Thanjavur Big Temple. The temple is built on the south bank of Cauvery River.
How to reach Brihadeeswara Temple:
Location: Brihadeeswara Temple, Membalam Road, Balaganapathy Nagar, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613007
Timings: 6am to 9pm, Open all 365 days
By Air: The nearest International Airport from Thanjavur is Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ), Tamil Nadu. It’s around 61km away and roughly one hour drive from Thanjavur.
By Train: The nearest Railway Station from Thanjavur is Trichy Junction, located at a distance of 58 Kms from Thanjavur. It is also well connected to major cities like Coimbatore, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Karaikal, Madurai, Mysore and Tiruchendur via Rameswaram Express, Mannai Express, Jan Shatabdi Express, Ernakulam Express and Mannai Express etc.
By Road: Thanjavur is well connected to all the major cities like Mannarguddi, Pattukkottai, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Karaikkudi, Dindigul, Madurai, Tirunelveli etc. Tamil Nadu State Road Transport Corporation (TNSRTC) and some private bus operators have frequent buses from all these cities. Also, one can travel by private vehicles as the roads are in good condition.
Brihadeeswara Temple – A Structural Masterpiece:
The Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur was built during the reign of the Chola king Rajaraja I in the 11th century AD. The construction of temple began in 1003 AD and took around 7 years and was completed in 1010 AD. The temple was built to honor the Hindu god Shiva and is considered to be one of the best examples of Dravidian architecture.
The construction of the temple was undertaken by the king himself, who had a passion for architecture and arts. The temple was designed by the architect Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachchan and his team. Also the temple is made of granite stones and is 66 meters high. The temple has a massive 16-story gopuram (tower) at the entrance which is 30 meters high and has intricate carvings and sculptures.
The main structure of the temple is supported by 250,000 tons of granite rock which was brought from a quarry located 50 km away. The temple also has several smaller shrines and mandapams (halls) which are adorned with beautiful sculptures and carvings. Temple is surrounded by a large moat and has four smaller gopurams at each direction.
The temple was built using a unique technique called “vimana construction”, where the rock was brought to the temple site in blocks and then assembled. The temple was also built with advanced techniques like interlocking of stones without any binding material, and the use of perfect angles and alignments.
Vimana having a Kalash weighing a whopping 81 tons!
The Brihadeeswara temple is built using granite stones and is adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures. The temple has a towering shikhara or vimana that is about 66 meters high and is one of the tallest in India. It is made up of 13 tiers. The vimana is topped with a huge kalash, weighing around 81 tons.
It is said that to bring the Kalash to the top of the Gopuram, first a slope was made using sand till the top. Then the Kalash was dragged using elephants to the top. Then the entire sand was scooped out.
One more interesting fact of this Kalash is that it won’t cast any shadow during any time of the day. The base of Gopuram is so wide that it will completely eat out the shadow of the Kalash. Truly an engineering marvel.
8th Biggest temple in the world with huge Shiva Lingam
The interior of the temple is decorated with beautiful frescoes and murals depicting the various stories from Hindu mythology. The main sanctum of the temple houses a giant lingam, a symbol of Lord Shiva. The lingam is also named as “Rajarajeshwara” as it was built by Raja Raja Chola I. It is said that the lingam at Brihadeeswara temple is one of the biggest lingams in India. The Nandi statue situated in the campus tells it all. Huge the Nandi statue, huge is the Lingam.
The temple also has several smaller shrines devoted to other deities such as Parvati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya. It attracts thousands of devotees and tourists every year who come to marvel at its beauty and seek blessings from the deity. The temple is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and is considered to be one of the most important temples of South India.
Overall, the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur is a masterpiece of architecture and engineering and is a testament to the engineering skills of the ancient Indians.
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