Brihadeeswarar Temple

The Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as Rajarajeswaram or the 'Big Temple', was completed in 1010 CE by the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I to commemorate his military victories. Its vimana (temple tower) rises to about 66 meters, making it one of the tallest temple towers in the world at the time of construction, and it remains one of the tallest in South India. The temple is constructed entirely of granite, with an estimated 130,000 tonnes used in its construction — remarkable given the nearest granite source is many kilometers away. Atop the vimana sits a single 80-tonne granite capstone, believed to have been hauled up a rubble ramp several kilometers long. The temple contains a massive Nandi (bull) statue carved from a single rock, among the largest in India. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Great Living Chola Temples' along with the temples at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.