Name: Brihadishvara Temple, also known as Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyar Koyil.

Location: It is located in the city of Thanjavur, which lies in the state of Tamil Nadu, in south India.

Historical Timeline: It was built by king Raja Raja Chola 1 of the Chola dynasty between 1003 and 1010 AD. The original structure included the entrance or the gopuram, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures. Some of the mandapams and other structures such as the surrounding wall were added in the later centuries.

Visit Timings: 6.00 a.m. – 12.30 Noon, 4.00 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.

Deity: The main deity is Lord Shiva who is worshipped here in the form of a Shivalinga. The other deities are Dakshinamurthy, Chandra, Surya, and the Ashtadikpaalakas (Guardians of the 8 directions) – Indra, Agni, Nirrti, Varuna, Kubera, Isana, Yama, and Vayu.

Accessibility route: The city of Thanjavur is connected daily to other major cities by the network of Indian Railways, Tamil Nadu bus services and the National Highways 67, 45C, 226 and 226 Extn. The ... More

Name: Brihadishvara Temple, also known as Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyar Koyil.

Location: It is located in the city of Thanjavur, which lies in the state of Tamil Nadu, in south India.

Historical Timeline: It was built by king Raja Raja Chola 1 of the Chola dynasty between 1003 and 1010 AD. The original structure included the entrance or the gopuram, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures. Some of the mandapams and other structures such as the surrounding wall were added in the later centuries.

Visit Timings: 6.00 a.m. – 12.30 Noon, 4.00 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.

Deity: The main deity is Lord Shiva who is worshipped here in the form of a Shivalinga. The other deities are Dakshinamurthy, Chandra, Surya, and the Ashtadikpaalakas (Guardians of the 8 directions) – Indra, Agni, Nirrti, Varuna, Kubera, Isana, Yama, and Vayu.

Accessibility route: The city of Thanjavur is connected daily to other major cities by the network of Indian Railways, Tamil Nadu bus services and the National Highways 67, 45C, 226 and 226 Extn. The nearest airport with regular services is Tiruchirappalli International Airport, which is at a distance of about 55 kilometres.

Nearby Places (Landmarks): The Brihadisvara temple, along with the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple, forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples". These two temples are located about 70 kilometres and 40 kilometres to the northeast respectively and are worth visiting. Besides these, there are some other places in the vicinity which can also be visited. Some of these are the following:

Thanjavur Palace – It is located quite close to the Brihadeeswarar Temple. Its foundation was laid down by the Nayak kings and was constructed in the year 1550 AD. It houses a museum and an art gallery which displays items of royalty such as royal robes, arms and weapons, utensils, granite and bronze statues and musical instruments.

Manora Fort – Tis is around 65 km from the city center. It was constructed by a Maratha Ruler, Serfoji II in in 1814-15 to mark the British win over Napoleon Bonaparte in the ‘Battle of Waterloo’. It is an 8-storey structure which is hexagonal in shape. The top of the fort offers some amazing views of the surroundings area.

Saraswathi Mahal Library – Located inside the elegant Saraboji Palace, the Library has several books and Tamil and Sanskrit manuscripts. The latter are of great value for historians as they are a source of important information on the life of the past rulers and their works. The library also has a collection of art works, including several paintings, which depict some old cities that were in existence at the time of King Saraboji.

Schwartz Church – This is a 200 year old cathedral that was constructed by Reverend Schwartz. Though the church does not have any distinct architecture but it offers a quite spot in spite of being located in a busy area. The church is managed by CSI Trichy-Tanjore and organizes early morning services.

Siva Ganga Garden - It is a small but well-maintained garden which is a popular picnic spot that is lies between Schwartz Church and the Brihadishvara Temple. The garden also has a children’s play area, a toy train and a pond with boating facility.

Circuit

Ashram

Panchang

Calendar

Philosophy

Active/Dormant: Active. Although the temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is taken care of by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), it is still a place of active worship.

Aakar/Nirakar: Aakar