Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

3031 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Brihadisvara Temple

பெருவுடையார் கோயில்

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu · 10.7828°, 79.1317°

Shiva (Brihadisvara)CholaDravidaPaadal Petra SthalamUNESCO World Heritage
Sacred since
1003 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
1003–1010 CE
patron: Rajaraja I

History & significance

The masterpiece of Chola imperial architecture, completed in 1010 CE by Rajaraja I at the height of Chola power. Its 66 m granite vimana was the tallest structure in India for centuries, and its walls carry some of the most detailed temple inscriptions ever cut, recording staff, dancers, and endowments. Part of the UNESCO 'Great Living Chola Temples'.

Sthala katha — the traditional account

What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.

Tradition holds the kalasha capstone weighs 80 tonnes and was hauled up a ramp kilometres long; the temple's shadow is popularly (if inaccurately) said never to fall on the ground at noon.

Reaching there

In Thanjavur city; nearest airport Tiruchirappalli (~60 km), Thanjavur Junction rail.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chola