Gangaikonda Cholapuram

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Gangaikonda Cholapuram ( Tamil கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம் Kaṅkaikoṇṭa Cōḻapuram [ ɡaŋɡɛi̯koɳɖə tʃo ɻəpuɾʌm ː ] ) is a historic site in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the edge of Kaverideltas in Ariyalur district.

The town's name means " city of the Chola who defeated the Ganga " and refers to its founding story: After his successful war against Kalinga ( Orissa ) and Bengal 1022/23, the Chola king Rajendra decided I (reigned 1012-1044 ), about 60 kilometers northeast of Thanjavur, the capital of his kingdom, to establish a new capital. This was to commemorate the expedition to the holy river Ganges ( Ganga ) the name Gangaikonda Cholapuram. For over 200 years, the city remained the seat of the ruler of the powerful Chola kingdom, but was probably in the 13th century by the distinguished Pandya under Jatavarman Sundara (r. 1251-1268 ) conquered and largely destroyed.

In today's village Gangaikonda Cholapuram only ruins today are of the buildings of the erstwhile Chola capital, including the Royal Palace, left.

Brihadisvara Temple

Only the Shiva temple consecrated Brihadisvara, modeled in plan and elevation of the temple of the same name in Thanjavur is still almost completely intact. Unlike the Vimana ( tower of the Blessed Sacrament ) of the model in the Thanjavur temple tower of Gangaikonda Cholapuram with 55 meters height is lower and more delicate. He also has a slight curvature, rather than steep aufzustreben pyramidal. The 150 columns counting assembly hall ( Mahamandapa ) already draws on features of the later usual thousand -pillar hall. The sculptural decoration of the temple is an outstanding example of the sculpture of the Chola period. Further east overlooks a statue of the mythical bull Nandi in the direction of the Vimana. In the same way also the only partly preserved gopuram ( gate-tower ) is located. In the temple area there are several more small shrines, as well as an artificial pond, the Rajendra I once made with Ganges water, which had to pay him his defeated enemies Tribute fill. As one of three major temples of the Chola dynasty of Brihadisvara Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram since 2004 belongs to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.