Tanjavur, once the capital of the Chola dynasty between the 1st and 12th centuries contains over 90 temples! It is on the Unesco World Heritage list for its incredible Brihadishwara Temple built by the Chola king Rajaraja in 1010. It is also said that there used to be 400 devadasis Bharatnatyam dancers in the temple at that time! More on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devadasi
Interesting enough it is the only temple complex we see in southern India that is not colorful!
Before visiting the temple we begin by one of the many royal palaces at the time used to house the palaces 600 servants! It has lovely carved doorways, airy rooms and green gardens with papaya trees, towers with views of the whole area.
Brihadishwara Temple is the first great example of the brilliance of Chola architecture showing their wealth, power and artistic talent. The highest tower inside is 63 meters high with 16 stories! It is very pleasant strolling along the interior corridors to realize the size and importance of the temple. Brihadishwara was built to display the site of major royal ceremonies such as the anointing the emperor and linking him with its deity, Shiva. Still today it remais India’s largest temple.
A huge 6 meter long and 3 meter high Nandi bull sits at the entrance in a covered pillared house facing the inner sanctum. He weighs 25 tonnes and an one of Indias’s largest Nandi statues. He is contantly covered by flowers and towel and worshipers walk around the him 7 times as the priest chants prayers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devadasi
Interesting enough it is the only temple complex we see in southern India that is not colorful!
Before visiting the temple we begin by one of the many royal palaces at the time used to house the palaces 600 servants! It has lovely carved doorways, airy rooms and green gardens with papaya trees, towers with views of the whole area.
Brihadishwara Temple is the first great example of the brilliance of Chola architecture showing their wealth, power and artistic talent. The highest tower inside is 63 meters high with 16 stories! It is very pleasant strolling along the interior corridors to realize the size and importance of the temple. Brihadishwara was built to display the site of major royal ceremonies such as the anointing the emperor and linking him with its deity, Shiva. Still today it remais India’s largest temple.
A huge 6 meter long and 3 meter high Nandi bull sits at the entrance in a covered pillared house facing the inner sanctum. He weighs 25 tonnes and an one of Indias’s largest Nandi statues. He is contantly covered by flowers and towel and worshipers walk around the him 7 times as the priest chants prayers.
