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Gangaikonda Cholapuram
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Get to Know Gangaikonda
Cholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram or Gangaikondacholeeswaram Temple is located in the Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu.
The temple derives its name from the ancient town it was a part of called Gangaikonda Cholapuram, which was the
capital of the Chola dynasty for over 250 years. It is a part of the trip of the ‘Great Living Chola Temples’ along with
the Airavastesvara Temple and Brihadeeswara Temple; also listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
One of the largest temples in India, the Gangaikonda One of the interesting features of the temple and the
Cholapuram temple has Shiva as the principal deity. The town itself is the way the place got its name. Rajendra I, a
main temple tower stands 55 m tall and the imposing Chola emperor sent his army towards the Northern parts
building is covered in rich art and sculptures that adorn of India to get pots of water from the holy river of Ganga.
the premises in absolute grandeur. The magnificent On the way, they defeated several enemy armies and
temple is built on an elevated structure. There is a came home victorious. Thus he earned the nickname
splendid courtyard that is 170 m high and 98 m wide. As Gangaikonda Chola or the one who conquered the Ganges.
in the case of most Shiva temples, the principal deity is So when he established a new capital city, he named it
represented as a Shiva Lingam which is 13 ft tall. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram and later when the temple was
main part of the structure is 341 ft high and 100 ft wide. built, it got the same name.
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How to reach
🚌 Ariyalur Bus Stand,
about 45 km away.
✈️Chennai International Airport,
about 290 km away.
🚇 Kutralam Railway Junction,
about 30 km away
Best time to
visit
November to March
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The Legacy of
Gangaikonda
Cholapuram
A temple that is much more than a place of worship; a living
tribute to the rich history of India and the legacy of the
marvellous Dravidian architectural genre. The Gangaikonda
Cholapuram Temple is a repository of the ageless sculptures of
the Chola period in South India.
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