The tall and magnificent gopuram of the Brihadeesvara temple dominates the skyline and is visible well before we near the temple complex.
Our visit to Tanjore was a drive through on our way from Kumbakonam to Trichy and we had planned a halt only to visit the temple complex.
Brihadeesvara temple, called the ‘Big Temple’, was built in the 11th century, by Chola dynasty, but saw additions, renovations and restorations over the next 1000 years.
The Marathas of Tanjore built a fortified wall around the temple and added an entranceway, which is, today, used as the main entrance to the temple.
The temple faces east and once had a moat around it. There are barrel vaulted structures around the periphery which were added by the Marathas.
The temple complex is rectangular and has five main sections- the main sanctum with the towering gopuram, the Nandi bull hall, community hall, great gathering hall and a pavilion that connects the great hall to the sanctum. There are various smaller temples and shrines in the circumambulation area around the temple.
The Big Temple is a testimony to the expertise of engineers, architects and artisans of the Chola era, to scale up and build a gopuram that has an impressive height of 208 feet. There is elaborate and detailed carving on all faces of the gopuram, including the large single stone at the top.
The structures are all of granite and have been beautifully preserved. The complex has been deemed by UNESCO as a world heritage site and repairs and restorations are evident at various corners.
You can view more pictures here https://photos.app.goo.gl/Nyea9GF9rDv7y9S1A
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