Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple

By George On

Brihadeeswarar Temple is a famous Shiva temple at Thanjavur alias Tanjore in the Tamilnadu state of India. This temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is part of the Great Living Chola Temples.

Brihadeeswarar Temple
Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple

Brihadeeswarar Temple is called “Peruvudaiyar Kovil” in the local language, Tamil. This temple at Thanjavur was built using granite in Tamil architecture by the emperor Raja Raja Chola I alias Arulmozhivarman in 1010 AD. Thanjavur alias Thanjur is famous for art, architecture, culture, and religion.

Brihadeeswarar Temple is one of the largest temples in India and is hence called the ‘big temple‘ or ‘Periya Kovil’ in Tamil. This temple is also known as RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram, Brihadeshwara Temple.

Peruvudaiyar Kovil was the largest building built fully with granite. This temple is built in the Dravida type of temple architecture. The temple construction was completed in 5 years. The temple is at a raised height of around 5 meters from ground level. The raised platform contains stone deities and carvings showing various Lord Shiva dance forms.

The temple tower, with a height of 216 feet (66 meters), is one of the tallest. The apex, or ‘Kumbam’, weighing 81 tons, is carved from a single rock.

Nandi Statue Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar TempleNandi Statue Thanjavur Temple.   Image courtesy  – Bala Subrahmanyam

A 16-foot-long, 13-foot-high ‘Nandi statue’ at the entrance, weighing around 20 tonnes, carved out of a single rock can be seen here.

How Do I Go to Brihadeeswarar Temple alias Brihadeeswara Temple?

Brihadeeswarar Temple, alias Big Temple, is well connected by road and railway network to other parts of the country. “Thanjavur Junction” is the nearest railway station to the famous Big temple at Thanjavur. Thanjavur alias Tanjore is well connected by regular trains to Chennai, the capital city of the state. Chennai is around 229 kilometers from Thanjavur. Tiruchirapalli Airport, at around 49 kilometers distance, is the nearest airport to the temple city of Thanjavur. The nearest major international airport is in Chennai.

Commemorative Coin on Thanjavur Big Temple

In 2010, on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of the Temple, the Government of India released 1000 rupee coins with a picture of Brihadeswarar temple alias Big Temple.