GangaikondaCholapuram

(in continuation of East Coast Diaries)

An hour's drive from Kumbakonam, you arrive at the small village of Cholapuram which houses the very famous Brihadeshwara Temple, not to confuse with the Brihadeswara Temple at Thanjavur. This is an exact replica of the main temple at Tanjore but a much smaller in magnitude. Preserved by the UNESCO as a World Heritage site, this village is devoid of any visitors except for the handful of tourists who arrive to see the Navagraha Sthalas nearby.

The main entrance to the Shiva Temple at GangaikondaCholapuram

Stone edicts depicting the coronation of the king.

The tall gopuram of the temple at GangaikondaCholapuram

The World Heritage Site of GangaiKondaCholapuram

Darasuram

(in continuation of East Coast Diaries)

The village of Darasuram lies around a km from Kumbakonam, just off the highway towards Thanjavur. This little village holds a masterpiece of its sorts of Chola Architecture, the magnificent Airavateswara Temple. ASI has put in lot of efforts to maintain this heritage and cultural site and in restoring its lost grandeur.

The magnificent Airavateswara Temple

The main highlights of this temple: is the lofty vimanam, the hall of the main sanctum is designed as a chariot supported by wheels, horses and the elephants. The detailing in the sculptures on the pillars, inside the hall of the sanctum is superb. It has carvings of the puranas as well as lives of the people way back in the 12 century. This temple was built in the 12 century by King Raja Raja 2 of the Chola dynasty.

Intricate carvings in Airavateswara Temple

The entrance to the main hall of the sanctum looks like a chariot