Brihadisvara Temple

The Brihadisvara Temple was commissioned by the Chola emperor Rajaraja I and completed around 1010 CE in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the largest temples in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the 'Great Living Chola Temples.'

The temple's main tower, or vimana, rises approximately 66 meters (216 feet) above the sanctum, making it one of the tallest temple structures in South India at the time of its construction. Its massive granite capstone alone reportedly weighs around 80 tons.

The temple is constructed entirely of granite, which was likely transported using elephants and a series of earthen ramps stretching over several kilometers. No cement or mortar was used in the original construction; the massive blocks are held in place by their own weight.

The temple walls feature extensive Chola-era frescoes discovered in the 1930s beneath later Nayak period paintings. These frescoes depict Shiva in various forms and are considered some of the finest surviving examples of Chola mural art.