Gangaikonda Cholapuram- Heritage to world by Chola Kingdom

This temple Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a UNESCO World heritage, also popular as Gangaikonda Brihadishvara temple was built in 1023 AD by great son Rajendra Chola-I of great king Rajaraja -I .

He followed the same architecture and design of the temple as his father made in Thanjavur in 1010 AD. The skill and techniques used in constructing are already I described in Thanjavur temple so not discussing the same again.

This temple though somewhat replica but does not have the same beauty of sculptures as was in his father’s temple. It is said that for some reasons Thanjavur temple could not be consecrated so hurriedly his son constructed this temple and whose consecration took place after 42 years of construction.

The crowd at this temple was very less as compared to Thanjavur temple but it is kept very neat by ASI department.

Total time to visit this temple is not not less than two hours. Just 1.5 KM apart is the Chola palace where the king used to stay and coronation used to take place in Gangaikonda this temple. The palace is in complete ruins except that a few walls and starcases are visible. The bricks used in this temple was taken away by British in making a river dam nearby. Even today villagers take bricks from here to build their houses.

There are no hotels at this place to stay. You can take below itinerary.

Itinerary

			Time
Day 1	Stay at Thanjavur (Night stay)	Visit Brihdeshwara temple, Maratha palace. Both are near to each other and 2 KM from Railway Junction station.	2 hours for Brihdeshwara temple and 1.5 hrs for Palace premises
Day 2	Take taxi 8 AM to go to Gangai Konda Cholapiram (65 KM)	Visit the Gangaikonda Brihdeshwara temple and palace ruins and small museum adjacent.	2 hours
	Move to Kumbakonam by same taxi (34 KM)	Visit Airateshwara temple at Dharasuram, 6 KM from new bus stand	3 hours to see this UNESCO world heritage site
Day 3	Visit Kumbkonam temples	5-6 hours If interested visit navgraha. (start at 5.30 AM and tour will end by 10.30 PM taking you to all nav grahas. Total distance covered is 280 KM.	You can mainly visit Kumbaleshwar temple, Sarangpani temple, Kashi Vishwanath temple, Mahamanam tank and Maths genius Ramajujam house. I think it is enough as there are 188 temples in Kumbkonam. All temples are similar type.

Except this temple, the old city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram has been completely destroyed- the empire which ruled India from Tungbhadra till south, Malaya, Srilank, Cambodia, Burma, Kalinga, Maldives, Andman Nicobar. Now it is desolate place-completely desolate.

Currently 4 daily rituals, Maha Shiv Ratri and some festiavlas even today are celebrated in this temple. Shivratri takes place in month of February-March.

Here are some beautiful photos we took.

Some great Hindu God’s sculptures

The refinement and finishing of Thanjavur Brihdishwar temple was superior than this temple. The number of gopurams are also more in Thanjavur temple. The reason of construction of this temple was to celebrate the conquest of Kaling-Ganges region by Rajendra-I.

A very famous sculpture-Natraj–4 arms-upper right showing drum and abhay mudra while throwing across the body is gaja hasta.The matted hair locks are shown flying on both sides. On right side of matted hair river ganga is shown. By the left side of leg is shown dancing Kali,carrying drum,sword, trident,abhaya, dandhasta in her hand.

8 armed bhairava in naked state.Wears garland of skull, round eyes, protruded teeth, hair show like flame, holding trident, parsu, sword and noose in right arm, fire, skull, khatvanga and bell in left arm, coil of snake around thigh.

4 Armed Lingodhbahava coming out from shaft of fire. Right arm holds axe and lower arm in abhay mudra. Left upper holds deer and lower is on thigh. Leg below ankle is hidden and linga is hidden by garland.

4 arms. uppaer arm holds rose,lower arm points down. left upper arm holds chouri and lower arm is on thigh

Durga with- 8 arms-a buffalo head below and lion is behind

Mahavishnu with 4 arms. Upper holding discus and conch while lower in abhay mudra and other lower on thigh. Right side standing is sridevi and left side is bhudevi

Kalantaka signifying-dance of time and-eternity by shiva

Ardh narishwar; When once Parvati consort of Shiva complained that he does not love her. Shiva showed that his one half is Parvati, After that Parvati never complained.

Four armed Shiva-pacifying Parvati. The upper right arm is receiving ganga from his matted lock,lower arm gently around Parvati. Other upper arm holds deer and left is on thigh.

Kalandhaka-Four armed shiva destroying kala upper hand parsu lower hand trident

Made of bricks and was made later by Nayakas in 16th century

This was constructed later period by Nayakas. The steps lead to well

Epilogue