Brihadisvara Temple

Brihadishvara Temple, also known as Thanjai Periya Kovil and Rajarajeswaram, is a Hindu Dravidian-styled temple dedicated to the deity Shiva in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the biggest Hindu temples in the world, as well as an outstanding example of completely realized Tamil architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples," which also includes the Chola dynasty era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple, which are about 70 and 40 kilometers northeast, respectively.

This 11th-century temple's original monuments were erected around a moat. Brihadishvara Temple had the gopura, the main temple, its great tower, inscriptions, frescoes, and sculptures mostly linked to Shaivism, but also to the Hinduism traditions of Vaishnavism and Shaktism. The temple has been damaged during its history, and some artwork has been lost. In the centuries that followed, more mandapams and monuments were built. The temple is presently surrounded by strong walls built after the 16th century.

The vimana tower, which stands above the shrine and is made of granite, is one of the highest in South India. The temple has a gigantic colonnaded prakara as well as one of India's biggest Shiva lingams. It is particularly known for the high quality of its sculpture and for being the place where the bronze Nataraja - Shiva as the Lord of Dance – was commissioned in the 11th century. The temple is one of Tamil Nadu's most popular tourist destinations.