Day 01
Explore Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur
- Meet your guide, who will take you to Brihadisvara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to Lord Shiva in Thanjavur, formerly known as Tanjore, in Tamil Nadu, India. This is one of the grandest, most glorious, and largest temples in South India and is popularly known as the Big Temple, a perfect illustration of the great heights achieved in architecture during ancient times. Inside the temple stands the famous Vimana temple tower, one of the tallest in the world and believed to have been carved out of a single rock.
- Your guide will begin the tour by telling you the fascinating story of how the great temple was built: there is no binding material, only interlocking stone, and the construction involved the forced labour of thousands of captive elephants. You will get to admire the temple entrance, which is adorned with a beautiful sculpture of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
- Moving inside, you will first witness a huge sculpture of Nandi, the Gate Guardian of Shiva, carved out of a single stone. According to local legend, this stone has grown in size over time and history and continues to do so today.
- Next, you will see the Mahalingam - the stone on top of the tower - and discuss the local legends surrounding how this huge stone structure was brought to such a height at the top of the temple. You will also get to admire the high wall surrounding the temple, alongside the entrance adorned with beautifully preserved stone structures. There are elaborate paintings across the temple's walls too, which you will also explore.
- Finally, you will see the Parvati Temple and examine the story of Mahashivratri as depicted on the beautifully painted and carved temple walls. Depending on the time of your visit, you may also get to witness a live prayer ceremony at this temple.
