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{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| image = A collage of Great living Chola temples UNESCO heritage site.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption = Scenes from the three temples
| location = [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| includes = [[Brihadisvara Temple|The Brihadisvara Temple Complex, Thanjavur]]<br/>[[Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram|The Brihadisvara Temple Complex, Gangaikondacholapuram]]<br/>[[Airavatesvara Temple|The Airavatesvara Temple Complex, Darasuram]]
| ID = 250bis
| coordinates = {{coord|10|46|59|N|79|07|57|E|region:IN|display=title, inline|format=dms}}
| year = 1986
| extension = 2004
| area = {{convert|21.88|ha|acre|abbr=on}}
| buffer_zone = {{convert|16.715|ha|acre|abbr=on}}
| locmapin = India#Tamil Nadu
| map_caption =
| WHS = Great Living Chola Temples
| Criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(i), (ii), (iii), (iv)}}(i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
}}
The '''Great Living Chola Temples''' is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] designation for a group of three [[Chola dynasty]] era [[Hindu temple]]s in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The temple at [[Thanjavur]] was added in the list in 1987, while the other two temples were added in 2004.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250 |title=Great Living Chola Temples |access-date=6 November 2010 |publisher=World Heritage: Unesco.org}}</ref>

Completed between early 11th and the 12th century CE, the monuments include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/945rev.pdf |title=Great Living Chola Temples |access-date=6 November 2010 |publisher=[[UNESCO]]}}</ref>

* [[Brihadisvara Temple]] at [[Thanjavur]], built by [[Rajaraja I]].
* [[Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram|Brihadisvara Temple]] at [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]], built by [[Rajendra Chola I]].
* [[Airavatesvara Temple]] at [[Darasuram]], built by [[Rajaraja II]].

== World Heritage Site recognition ==
The Temple Complex at [[Thanjavur]] was recognised in 1987. The Temple Complex at [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] and the Airavatesvara Temple Complex were added as extensions to the site in 2004. The criteria for inclusion in the "Great Living Chola Temples" site are:
* Criterion (i): The three [[Chola]] temples of Southern India represent an outstanding creative achievement in the architectural conception of the pure form of the Dravidan type of temple.
* Criterion (ii): The [[Brihadisvara Temple]] at Thanjavur became the first great example of the Chola temples, followed by a development of which the other two properties also bear witness.
* Criterion (iii): The three Great Chola Temples are an exceptional and the most outstanding testimony to the development of the architecture of the Chola Empire and the [[Tamil civilization]] in Southern India.
* Criterion (iv): The Great Chola temples at Thanjavur, at Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram are outstanding examples of the architecture and the representation of the Chola ideology.

== Temples ==
Thanjavur is about {{convert|340|km}} southwest of [[Chennai]]. Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram are respectively about {{convert|70|km}} and about {{convert|40|km}} to its northeast.

{{Location map+ | Tamil Nadu
| width = 300
| float = center
| relief = 1
| caption = Location of Chola temples in the UNESCO world heritage site.
| AlternativeMap = India Tamil Nadu location map.svg
| places =
{{Location map~ | Tamil Nadu
| label = Thanjavur
| position = bottom
| mark = Tamil Om.svg
| marksize = 10
| lat_deg = 10.782778
| lon_deg = 79.131667 }}
{{Location map~ | Tamil Nadu
| label = Gangaikonda Cholapuram
| position = top
| mark = Tamil Om.svg
| marksize = 10
| lat_deg = 11.206233
| lon_deg = 79.448889 }}
{{Location map~ | Tamil Nadu
| label = Darasuram
| position = right
| mark = Tamil Om.svg
| marksize = 10
| lat_deg = 10.948411
| lon_deg = 79.356708 }}
{{Location map~ | Tamil Nadu
| label = Chennai
| position = left
| mark = Cyan pog.svg
| lat_deg = 13.083333
| lon_deg = 80.266667 }}
{{Location map~ | Tamil Nadu
| label = Madurai
| position = right
| mark = Cyan pog.svg
| lat_deg = 9.9
| lon_deg = 78.1 }}
{{Location map~ | Tamil Nadu
| label = Bengaluru
| position = right
| mark = Cyan pog.svg
| lat_deg = 12.966667
| lon_deg = 77.566667 }}
{{Location map~ | Tamil Nadu
| label = Coimbatore
| position = right
| mark = Cyan pog.svg
| lat_deg = 11.01833
| lon_deg = 76.97250 }}
}}

=== Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur ===
{{main|Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur}}
[[File:Brihadisvara Temple - Thanjavur peruvudaiyar kovil ttkcvrvb122k23iph (588).jpg|thumb|Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur]]
The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]].<ref name=britbrihadthanj>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Thanjavur-India Thanjavur], Encyclopaedia Britannica</ref><ref name=asibrihadthanj/> It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of fully realized [[Tamil architecture]].<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Keay |author-link=John Keay |year=2000 |title=India, a History |publisher=[[Harper Collins Publishers]] |location=New York, United States |isbn=0-00-638784-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3aeQqmcXBhoC |pages=xix}}</ref> Built by [[Raja Raja Chola I]] between 1003 and 1010 AD. The original monuments of this 11th century temple were built around a moat. It included gopura, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures predominantly related to [[Shaivism]], but also of [[Vaishnvaism]] and [[Shaktism]] traditions of [[Hinduism]]. The temple was damaged in its history and some artwork is now missing. Additional mandapam and monuments were added in centuries that followed. The temple now stands amidst fortified walls that were added after the 16th century.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1975|pp=1-21}}<ref name=michell16>{{cite book|first=George |last=Michell |date=2008 |title=Architecture and art of Southern India |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |pages=16–21, 89–91}}</ref>

Built out of granite, the [[vimana (architectural feature)|vimanam]] tower above the sanctum is one of the tallest in South India.<ref name=asibrihadthanj>{{cite web|title=The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_cholabt.asp}}</ref> The temple has a massive colonnaded prakara (corridor) and one of the largest Shiva linga in India.<ref name=asibrihadthanj/>{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1975|pp=20-21}} It is also famed for the quality of its sculpture, as well as being the location that commissioned the brass [[Nataraja]] – Shiva as the lord of dance, in 11th century. The complex includes shrines for [[Nandi (Hinduism)|Nandi]], Amman, Subrahmanyar, Ganesha, Sabhapati, Dakshinamurti, Chandesrvarar, Varahi and others.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1975|pp=1-26}} The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="Gopal 1990 185">{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/185 185]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

=== Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram ===
{{main|Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram}}
[[File:Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu.jpg|thumb|Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram]]
The Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a Hindu temple located at Gangaikonda Cholapuram about {{convert|70|km}} from the Thanjavur Brihadisvara Temple. This temple was completed in 1035 AD by [[Rajendra Chola I]] as a part of his new capital, this Chola dynasty era temple is similar in design and has a similar name as the 11th century, and sometimes just called the Gangaikondacholapuram temple.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1975|pp=241-245}}<ref name=asigcbt/>{{sfn|Michell|1988|p=4, 51-53, 145}}

It is dedicated to Shiva and based on a square plan, but the temple reverentially displays Vaishnavism, Shaktism and syncretic equivalence themes of Hinduism with statues of Vishnu, Durga, Surya, Harihara, Ardhanishvara, and others.<ref name=asigcbt>[http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_cholabt.asp Great Living Chola Temples], Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India</ref><ref name=ayyar291>PV Jagadisa Ayyar (1993), South Indian Shrines, Asian Educational Services, {{ISBN|81-206-0151-3}}, pages 291-295</ref>{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1975|pp=241-249}} In addition to the main shrine with linga, the temple complex has a number of smaller shrines, gopura, and other monuments, with some partially ruined or restored in later centuries. The temple is famed for its bronze sculptures, artwork on its walls, the Nandi and the scale of its curvilinear tower.<ref name=asigcbt/>{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1975|pp=243-249}}<ref name=unesco>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250/ |title=Great Living Chola Temples|publisher= UNESCO World Heritage Centre|year=2004}}</ref>

=== Airavatesvara Temple ===
{{main|Airavatesvara Temple}}
[[File:Airavatesvara Temple, Dharasuram, Kumbakonam ttkcvrvb122k23iph (586).jpg|thumb|Airavatesvara Temple]]
The Airavatesvara Temple is at [[Darasuram]], in the outskirt of the city of [[Kumbakonam]], completed in 1166 AD.<ref name=michell91>{{cite book|first=George |last=Michell |editor-first1=Julia A. B. |editor-last1=Hegewald |editor-first2=Subrata K. |editor-last2=Mitra |title=Re-Use-The Art and Politics of Integration and Anxiety |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ZqHAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA91 |year=2012 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-81-321-0981-5 |pages=91–93}}</ref> It is one among a cluster of eighteen medieval era large Hindu temples in the [[Kumbakonam]] area.<ref>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1992]], pp. 349-350</ref> The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It also reverentially displays Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism, along with the legends associated with sixty three [[Nayanars]] – the [[Bhakti movement]] saints of Shaivism.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-245}}<ref name="Harle1994p318">{{cite book|first=James C. |last=Harle |title=The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent |url=https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl |url-access=registration |year=1994 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=978-0-300-06217-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl/page/318 318]}}</ref><ref name="Dehejia2010p106">{{cite book|first=Vidya |last=Dehejia |title=Art of the Imperial Cholas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=23F7vTn3hBMC |year=2010 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-51524-5 |pages=106–115}}</ref>

Named after Airavata, Indra's white elephant, the Airavatesvara Temple is part of the Great Living Chola Temples, a group of three major Chola-era temples in Tamil Nadu, India. It is the last of the three temples built under successive Chola rulers, beginning with Rajaraja I, and was constructed by Rajaraja II around c. 1150 CE. The temple is noted for the Rajagambhira Thirumandapam ("Royal Courtyard"), which features intricately carved pillars, long granite steps, and stone chariots drawn by horses. The site is located at Darasuram, near Kumbakonam.

The stone temple incorporates a chariot structure, and includes major Vedic and Puranic deities such as Indra, [[Agni]], [[Varuna]], [[Vayu]], Brahma, Surya, Vishnu, Saptamtrikas, Durga, Saraswati, Sri Devi (Lakshmi), Ganga, Yamuna, Subrahmanya, Ganesha, Kama, Rati and others.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-234}} The temple was much larger and once had seven courtyards according to inscriptions. Only one courtyard survives; parts of the temple such as the gopuram are in ruins, and the main temple and the main temple and associated shrines stand alone.<ref name=ayyar351>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1993]], p. 351</ref> The temple continues to attract large gatherings of Hindu pilgrims every year.<ref>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1992]], pp. 350-351</ref>{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-234}}<ref>{{cite book|first1=Pratapaditya |last1=Pal |first2=Stephen P. |last2=Huyler |first3=John E. |last3=Cort |display-authors=etal |title=Puja and Piety: Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Art from the Indian Subcontinent |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NXolDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA65 |year=2016 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-28847-8 |page=65}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180" caption="Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur">
File:Thanjavur, Brihadishwara Temple (7013915633).jpg|View of the [[vimana|Śrī Vimāna]] of the Thanjavur Temple
File:Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India (2016) 086.jpg|The granite [[gopuram]] (tower) of the Thanjavur Temple
File:Thanjavur brihadeeswarar temple.jpg|Temple entrance gopurams at Thanjavur
File:An elephant relief on the Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur.jpg|An elephant relief on the Thanjavur temple
File:Sanskrit written on the Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur.jpg|Tamil written on the Thanjavur Temple
</gallery>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180" caption="Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram">
File:Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple entrance.jpg|The entrance leads into a grand complex
File:Back view of Raja gopuram.jpg|The pyramidal structure above the sanctum at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple
File:Gangaikonda Cholapuram-Temple-WUS02583.jpg|[[Nandi (Hinduism)|Nandi]]
File:Gangaikonda cholapuram sculptures 06.jpg|[[Ardhanarishvara]] (half Shiva, half Parvati): sculpture at Gangaikonda Cholapuram
File:Chola sculpture.jpg|Stone sculpture at Gangaikonda Cholapuram
</gallery>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180" caption="Airavatesvara Temple">
File:A Dravidian architecture Pillar in Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram @ Thanjavur district..JPG|A pillar in Dravidian architectural-style in Airavatesvara Temple
File:Chariot detail, Airavatesvara, Tamil Nadu.jpg|Chariot detail of the Airavatesvara Temple
File:Darasuram, Airavatesvara Temple, Mandapa at night, India.jpg|Altar
File:Darasuram, Airavatesvara Temple, Inner halls, India.jpg|Pillars
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite book |last=Ayyar |first= P.V. Jagadisa |title=South Indian Shrines |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |year=1993 |isbn=81-206-0151-3 |ref=Ayyar}}
* {{cite book |last=Chaitanya |first=Krishna |title=Arts of India |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=1987 |ref=Chaitanya}}
* {{cite book |last=Davis |first=Richard |title=Lives of Indian images |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |location=Princeton, N.J |year=1997 |isbn=0-691-00520-6 |ref=Davis |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/livesofindianima0000davi}}
* {{cite book |author=S.R. Balasubrahmanyam |title=Later Chola Temples |publisher=Thomson Press |year=1979 |oclc=6921015}}
* {{cite book |author=S.R. Balasubrahmanyam |title=Middle Chola Temples |publisher=Thomson Press |year=1975 |isbn=978-9060236079}}
* {{cite book |last=Michell |first=George |title=The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |year=1988 |location=Chicago |isbn=0-226-53230-5}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Great living Chola temples}}
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250 UNESCO's World Heritage Site] listing the Chola temples

{{World Heritage Sites in India}}

[[Category:World Heritage Sites in India]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Chola architecture]]
[[Category:Granite buildings]]
[[Category:Dravidian architecture]]

Great Living Chola Temples - Revision history

LolitasErurf at 03:22, 19 January 2026