Built by King Rajaraja, the Brihadeeswarar Temple represents the crown jewel of Chola temple architecture and artisanship. With its 63 meter tall gopuram, this temple dominates over the Thanjavur landscape. The main chamber houses a 81 tonne, single piece of granite, Shiva Lingam. This temple is one of the longest, continuously worshipped temples in the world. It is the center piece of what the UNESCO refers to as the Great Living Chola Temples - a World Heritage Site.
The Brihadeeswarar Temple is open daily and there are no charges for entry into the temple.
The Great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola built this famous Brahadeshwara temple or the Big Temple. The sculptures who built this temple are Kunjaramalian and Raja Raja Perunthachan. This temple showcases the Indian architectural brilliance and is a favorite pilgrimage spot for many visitors visiting Tanjore. The Brahadeshwara Temple is protected by deep trenches filled with water on two sides and the Grand Anaicut River on the other side.
Brahadeshwara temple is a unique one that has 216 feet tall tower over the inner shrine. The Chola and the Nayak periods wall paintings adorn the walls of the sanctum. A gigantic statue of Nandi the Bull is placed at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum.
