This is the most amazing temple that I have ever seen. What was the technology used to make this temple app 1,000 years ago. It is the greatest creation of Raja Chola I (985-1012) & was consecrated for worship in 1010 a.d.

Vacant inner courtyard measures 24*122 metres and is surrounded by a cloister wall pierced by two large but almost identical coeval gopuradvaras on the eastern axis. The sub-shrine of Chandikeshwara on the northern side is contemporary. Others like Ganesha & Ammam shrines are post chola. Of the sub-shrines that of Subrahmanya 1600 a.d. is unique due to hexagonal sikhara. Ganapati sub-shrine was built by Maratha ruler Sarfoji II in 1803. A colossal Nandi is in the courtyard. Its dimensions are 12 feet tall, 19.5 feet tall and 8.25 feet broad. It weighs 25 tons. It was brought from Pachai hill of the Perambalur taluk in Trichy district. This is in keeping with the massive linga installed in the sanctum of the temple.

The Garbhagriha of the main temple is square with 29.25 m on each side. The ground Tala of the vimana is divided into two bhumis & the vimana soars upto the height of 63.40 metres or app 216 feet with 13 storeys, capped by an octagonal griva (neck) & sikhara whose base slab is said to weigh 80 tons. At the four corners of this square stone are placed the pairs of bulls, each one of them is individually 6.5 feet long and 5.5 feet broad. It is truly a Dravdian style vimana of the Mukya class and is called Daksina Meru. Mount Kailash where Lord Shiva is seated with Parvati is called Uttarameru. This temple belongs to the ‘Madakovil type’ and so reach the sanctum sanctorum there are entrances on the southern & northern side of the Vimana. The steps now found at the entrance of the shrine i.e. facing the east are said to have been built by King Sarfoji II.

The Linga is 13 feet in height. It shines beautifully in the light of oil lamps. It is made up of one stone. King Raja Raja brought it from the river Narmada. To perform Abhisheka for this linga, there are steps on both sides.

If we look down from the gopuram (tower) we can see a big fort wall and a deep moat around the temple. Only on the eastern & western sides, water flows in the moat. Local guide said that at one time moat used to have crocodiles in it. The southern part of the moat was linked with Kallanai canal when it was constructed. There are atleast three fort type walls. One is the main fort, then when we cross gate one see photo and another around the main temple (30 feet).

Above content is from Temples of Tamil Nadu by V Narayanswami, Thanjavur The Big Temple by Prof TK Narayanan and Govt of India board outside the temple. Friends I am not a temple expert but a passionate person. Have tried to be as accurate as possible but if you find any errors or suggest improvements please write me at sanjeev@esamskriti.com. Copyright lie with the authors. My SLR camera got spoilt during the trip so had to buy a cheaper camera in Pondicherry, apologies for not so good pics.