Zoë Sheng

4.00 Chinese-Canadian - 03-Oct-24 -

Like most people I only visited the Thanjavur temple called Brihadisvara Temple. The other ones aren't far but check this out: I took the train!! Yeah well, even I can be on a budget. Basically you go to the Trichy (that's Tiruchirappalli if you are a newbie), ask for the next train to Thanjavur which is often, pay the cheapo ticket price and ride 45min across the country.  The taxis wanted 2,500 for all this - ridiculous, unsure what the apps wanted though. The way back is the same. I asked for the time in advance and they even got me a reserved seat ticket. You can do all that on the apps if you want to so you know the times in advance. You can take a rickshaw or, like me, walk the 15min to the temple. The path is easy and only requires one tough-ish road crossing. Overall just from looking at pictures I think Brihadisvara is the best choice.

Brihadisvara Temple is the biggest of them too. You have to take off your shoes and socks to get in. It can get VERY hot and they don't do a good job covering the floor with mats well. That means after paying your small ticket fee for the storage you want to rapidly run to the shaded areas. That includes inside (only open after sunset) or the sides which has displays, people relaxing, people sleeping, people asking for money (no kidding). I had a lot of time to spend here so I took a long look at everything including the inside which I didn't know is closed until they told me but apparently the doors are still "open". You also can't take pictures inside. Anyhow, if you want to see the inside of the large temple you need to come at night.

My main time spent here was investigating the 81 of 108 dance karanas that are carved around the upper storey of the temple. It will take some time to check them all out. They are also described well in one of the nearby panels. It doesn't know why the remaining ones were left - probably because the owner, Chola king Rajaraja I, lost interest, or they couldn't find a good carver in time to replace the old one. Either way, you only get to see "most" of them but that's still very nice. 

Second interest is the design overall. It's architecture is brilliant. You walk through the large gate, see the temple in front of you, the walkways going around, smaller shrines nearby, a moat going around the outside - all well planned. Add to this the murals, inscriptions, the festivals they sometimes have, the carvings in the two mandapa, you'll be spending a long time here if you check it all out. I also mentioned the inside of the temple is only open at night which takes extra time. Perhaps the best viewing would be late afternoon and then stay for that opening.

Definitely worth seeing.

Mkandasa

5.00 18-Mar-19 -

Three of the chola temples are part of this WHS. Tanjore and Gangai Konda cholapuram are famous for their scale and grandeur. Darasuram is famous for its carvings. Hope Tiribuvanam temple too gets added in this list. That will complete the chola architecture timeline. I have visited all these four sites multiple times.

Wojciech Fedoruk

4.50 Poland - 03-Apr-15 -

Temple complex in Thanjavur is located in the city centre, not so far from the train station. There are signs leading to the temple, which can be easily reached on foot in less than half an hour (the main tower is visible from quite a big distance so it is easy to find the right direction). If you are short in time and travel by train, it may be enough to designate 3 to 4 hours for the whole stay in Thanjavur.

I was surprised at the entrance, as this is one of few places in Southern India where the entrance fee is not imposed. You should only pay a small fee for shoe deposit (in most of Hindu temples shoes should be removed). I suggest visiting the temple in the morning, noon hours can be too hot. And in the morning the place is less crowded.

The whole complex comprises of the Big Temple, several smaller ones and the "gallery" surrounding the whole place. In front of the main temple there is a big statue of Nandi, Shiva sacred bull. The place is very well designed so it is a real pleasure to sit in the shadow and admire the beauty of the temples. All temples are full of sculptures, although, as usual in Indian temples, they are not so impressive inside. There were religious ceremonies in the Big Temple and it was even allowed for non-Hindu to participate and take blessing (for a small donation). Do not omit nice and well preserved (although partially requiring renovation) frescoes in the gallery.

After visiting the temples in Thanjavur, I took the night train to Madurai, to admire another beautiful temple, devoted to Meenakshi.

Els Slots

4.00 The Netherlands - 20-Jan-11 -

The city of Thanjavur has over 200,000 inhabitants, but its center feels much smaller and can easily be explored on foot. Signs guide you to the “Big Temple”, as they call it here. Maybe even the Tamils find “Brihadisvara Temple” too cumbersome, although they manage pretty well with their elaborate place names made up of dozens of syllables. I visited on a late afternoon. There was a steady flow of worshippers and daytrippers going into the temple complex. There’s no entrance fee, or limitations to non-Hindus. Only take your shoes off.

The entrance gate here is not the prettiest construction of the complex but did already hold my gaze for a while. The decorations here clearly have greater quality than those at Mahabalipuram, and it is easy to see how the sculptures here have influenced Angkor for example. After the second gate, awaits the large inner courtyard. It’s a vast open space. In the center stands a large black Nandi statue, covered under a pavilion (under construction at the moment). To the sides are smaller temples. The whole area has a festive air: there’s a temple elephant doing tricks, and groups of friends are sitting on the grass and taking photos.

The monument at the end of the courtyard is the Temple’s masterpiece: the Vimana, an unbelievably high pyramidical tower, fully covered in sculptures. You really have to sit down to take it all in, it’s exuberant. There are so many little details to admire, and the state of conservation looked very good to me.

After I enjoyed all there is to see on the outside of the buildings, I put my camera away and went inside. Photographing isn’t allowed there. The Vimana contains many dark grey columns and some statues. Although the WHS is marketed as “Living” temples, I did not find the religious atmosphere as special as in Chidambaram for example (or maybe I had already gotten used to the sight of worshippers in their differently coloured loincloths).

I did not visit the other 2 temples that were added to the WHS later on. They are located 80kms or so away, and as they do not appear to be very different from the one in Thanjavur I decided not to go there.

Mohan

India - 10-Jun-08 -

The great Chola temples are the symbol of our Indian ancient architecture.The spiritual feeling one can realise inside the temples cannot be put in words ..They are the living examples for our ancient architecture which will live beyond many more generations to tell the holiness of old tamilian life style and culture.These temples are my favourite place in my own country..

Sri Ganesh

USA - 18-Sep-06 -

I visited the Brihadisvara temple in Thanjavoor while on a boy Scouts Tamil Nadu cycle tour from my home town in Coimbatore in 1980. The peria koil (big temple) was one of our stops and it was an awe struck feeling after a tired day of cycling! The gopuram carvings are magnificent. The massive monolith at the top is testimony to the prowess of the artisans.

Aswin Seshasayee

26-Jul-06 -

I have visited four of the big Chola temples in Tamil Nadu, India. These are the Big Temple in Tanjore, Gangaikondacholapuram, Darasuram and Chidambaram. All four are grand monuments. The first three are on the UNESCO list. While I have heard my parents crib about the sorry state of the big temple a few years back, recent renovation efforts (at the fitsr three temples) have highlighted their grandeur while conferring upon them an enchanting ambience. Besides the massive size of these monuments, the exquisite sculptures add to the grandeur.

Vidhya

India - 07-Jul-05 -

Every time, I enter the temple, I feel spiritually elevated. It is a great experience to be inside the sanctum sanctorum of this great temple.

Raja Raja chola, built this temple so big to bring the idea that "God is great" in the minds of every one.

He is so great that the world sings his praise even after 1000 years.

Last time, when I visited, there was a power cut when I was infront of Brahadesswara. For a moment, I could make dharshan as though, I was living 1000 years ago, as I saw the Lord in the lights of the lamps.

Darasuram temple and Brahadeeswarar tempe reveal the greatness of the Indian scuptures.

rusal

london ,england - 01-May-05 -

The brihadisvara temple is magnificent.

I was there every evening Puja,for darshan Of the giant Lingam,for three days,and on millenium eve.

To have been at the foot of the biggest lingam in India, in one of the most spectacular stone temples in the world was a very special way to turn a millenium.

I hope to return this lifetime.

if you are near or in tanjore dont miss it!