Great Living Chola Temples
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How it came to be
The Cholas established a powerful monarchy at Thanjavur in the 9th century and ruled south India and neighbouring islands for about four and a half centuries. Rajaraja I (r. 985-1012) began the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur around his 19th regnal year, 1003-1004, and consecrated it in his 25th, 1009-1010. Built of granite, it marked its thousandth year in September 2010.
Rajendra I (r. 1012-1044) built a Shiva temple at Gangaikondacholapuram, completed in 1035. Its 53 m vimana, the tower over the sanctum, has recessed corners and curves upward, unlike the straight tower at Thanjavur.
Rajaraja II (r. 1143-1173) built the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, with a 24 m vimana, much smaller than the other two. The murals of the Thanjavur temple were found in 1931 by S. K. Govindasami of Annamalai University. The temples were inscribed in 1987, and the boundaries were revised in 2004.
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