Brihadeeswara

Brihadeeswara Temple, also known as Raja Raja Peruvudaiyar Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the largest temples in the country and a prominent example of Tamil temple architecture from the Chola period.

The temple was commissioned by Rajaraja Chola I and completed around 1010 CE. Built with massive granite blocks, it exemplifies the imperial power and resources of the Chola dynasty. The temple's vimana (the main tower) rises about 65-66 meters above the ground, crowned by a large stone kalasha.

The temple is dedicated to Shiva in the form of Brihadeshvara. Its design is Dravidian, featuring a square plan, a sanctum housing Shivalinga, a vast outer wall adorned with sculptures, and a monumental Nandi statue carved from a single block and placed in the precincts.

The temple complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Living Chola Temples, inscribed in 1987, along with Gangaikonda Choleshwaram and Airavatesvara Temple.

In contemporary times, Brihadeeswara remains an active place of worship and a major tourist site. It hosts annual festival celebrations such as Maha Shivaratri and Karthigai Deepam, drawing visitors and pilgrims.