WHAT TO KNOW

A beautiful world that shines through thousands of sacred songs. This world has many stories about kingdoms, past victories, and lasting traditions.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is called a big “Lingam”. Along with the Gangaikonda Choli Swaram temple, it is said to be Chola temples in existence”.  One of the highlights of this temple is the Nandi, the sacred cow of Lord Shiva.

The statue is 13 feet tall and 16 feet wide,  carved from a single rock. The temple is surrounded by strong fort walls with magnificent rock art, giving an impression of grandeur to all. The main tower is 216 feet tall,  the tallest tower in the world.

The main gate ‘gopuram’, a temple gate, is beautifully designed with intricate carvings. The temple’s inscriptions and photographs tell the story of the city’s rise and fall. The Shivalingam or idol covered with a tower is made by joining stones without using mortar.

At the top of the mountain, you will see another miracle, a stone weighing  80 tons. This temple is a perfect example of the power and authority of the Chola kingdom that ruled this region. This great temple took only seven years to build, which is amazing considering the carvings, artwork, and size of the temple itself.