Brihadiswara Temple

Brihadiswara Temple Review

Although this soaring monument to Rajaraja's spirituality is dedicated to Shiva, the sculptures on the gopuram of the Brihadiswara Temple, or Great Temple, depict Vishnu, and those inside are Buddhist. Until they were uncovered in 1970s, the more interesting Chola frescoes on the walls of the inner courtyard had been obscured by later Nayak paintings. Within a single courtyard, a serene, huge Nandi bull (second-largest in India, next to the bull in Mysore) and pillared halls point toward the 190-foot vimana, a pyramidal tower capped by a single 80-ton block of granite. It's theorized that the massive capstone was pulled to the top along an inclined plane that began in a village 6 km (4 mi) away. The delicate carving on the round granite cupola minimizes the capstone's size and provides a visual break from the massive pyramid. The temple's carefully planned and executed architecture make it a fine example of Dravidian artisanship; in fact, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the best experience, visit the temple early in the morning, before the crowds arrive and the temperature rises.