Gangaikonda Cholapuram
A town located in Ariyalur in the state of Tamil Nadu in India, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is around 70 km northeast of Thanjavur City. Ariyalur, where the old city still exists, is a heritage town and is known for Gangaikondacholapuram Temple. The temple was built in the 11th century by Rajendra Chola who was the son who succeeded Rajaraja Chola, the famous ruler who reigned over the Chola Kingdom of Southern India. The imposing temple of Gangaikondacholapuram is situated near the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has the biggest of the Shivalingams in the south part of India. The entrance to the temple is impressive and is decorated with the beautiful statue of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess. The Dravidian architectural style in which the temple is built is of great elegance. The style adopted for the structure is similar to that of the Brihadisvara Temple. Around 54.86 m tall, the temple faces the east. A 9-storey, 185-feet tall temple tower (Vimanam) built with a tinge of northern style can be seen here. The temple, especially the Vimanams are ornamented with intricate carvings and displays expertise in the art of sculpting during the Chola Dynasty, the designs being exclusive to that period.
