Tanjore is one of the oldest cities in India. Tanjore is an important center of South Indian art and architecture. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, an UNESCO World Heritage Monument are located in an around Tanjore. The foremost among the Great Living Chola temples, the Brihadeeswara Temple, is located in the center of the city.
Tanjore is also the home of the Tanjore painting, a painting style unique to the region. The art form dates back to the early 9th Century.
Sri Brahadeeswarar Temple
This is also called the Big temple and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The great Chola king Raja Raja I (985-1012 A.D) built this temple. It is an outstanding example of the Chola architecture. Its unique architectural excellence has made the UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage Monument. The 64.8mts.Tall vimanam or the tower over the sanctum sanctorumis a testimony to the engineering skill of the Cholas.In keeping the immensity of the temple the gigantic mahalingam in the shrine measures 4 mtrs. in height. The monolithic Nandi,or the bull mount of Lord Shiva has been chiselled out of single rock. The tower is a testimony to the engineering skill of the Chola architects who planned its construction in a way that the shadow of the cupola never falls on the ground.
