Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur

தஞ்சை பெருவுடையார் கோயில்

Shiva · Peruvudaiyar

Linga

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu · Shaiva tradition

Built by the Chola king Rajaraja I and consecrated in his 25th regnal year (1009–1010 CE), it is the earliest of the three Great Living Chola Temples on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Read the story
Directions

At the gate

Darshan hours
  • 6:00 am – 12:30 pm · Morning
  • 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm · Evening
Darshan times are not published separately.
Getting there
Train: Thanjavur Railway Station (TJ)Air: Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ)

Not yet confirmed: dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths, walking distance. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

Told in: Rajaraja I's own inscriptions on the temple, as edited in South Indian Inscriptions Vol. II

The king's temple and the king's ledger

Thanjavur's great temple does not begin with a god descending or a sage at penance. It begins with a king's name. Around his 19th regnal year — 1003 CE — the Chola ruler Rajaraja I first appears in inscriptions with the title Sri-Rajaraja, and the temple he raised was called Sri-Rajarajesvara to carry that title forward. Epigraphists reading the walls conclude that building began in that 19th year.

The work moved quickly. A temple stood in some form by the king's 21st or 22nd year, when he presented gold flowers to it after his campaign against Satyasraya. By the 23rd year a considerable part was complete. On the 275th day of the 25th year the copper pot for the pinnacle of the central shrine was given; UNESCO dates the consecration to that 25th year, 1009–1010 CE.

Then the king did something that makes this temple unusual among its peers. On the 20th day of his 26th year he ordered that all gifts to the temple — his own and those given by others — be engraved on stone. The walls of the central shrine and the enclosure became a register. They list villages whose paddy fed the temple, including villages in Ceylon whose revenue was assigned to it; gold and silver vessels; four rings set with the nine gems; images set up by queens and officials, among them images of the sixty-three Saiva saints installed by the temple manager. They list the people the temple supported: musicians, servants, accountants, craftsmen and dancers. The gifts of Kundavai are cut into the walls of the central shrine itself. A military officer, Krishnan Raman, built part of the enclosure.

Every one of Rajaraja's inscriptions here is either dated in his 29th year or registers gifts made up to it, and the 29th appears to have been the last year of his reign. His son Rajendra I succeeded him, and the north wall of the enclosure was then used for later grants.

When you stand before the vimana, the bands of Tamil text cut into its walls are this ledger — the reason the temple's founding can be told from its own stones rather than from a later legend.

Where this account comes from

  • Inscription: South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. II (Tamil inscriptions of the Rajarajesvara temple at Tanjavur), Introduction whatisindia.com
  • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250), Statement of Outstanding Universal Value whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09

In one minute

Why Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. Built by the Chola king Rajaraja I and consecrated in his 25th regnal year (1009–1010 CE), it is the earliest of the three Great Living Chola Temples on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

    Source for: Built by the Chola king Rajaraja I and consecrated in his 25th regnal year (1009
    • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250), Statement of Outstanding Universal Value whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09

  2. Its walls carry the dated inscriptions of Rajaraja I recording his gifts of villages, jewels, images and temple staff, published as South Indian Inscriptions Volume II.

    Source for: Its walls carry the dated inscriptions of Rajaraja I recording his gifts of vill
    • Inscription: South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. II (Tamil inscriptions of the Rajarajesvara temple at Tanjavur), Introduction whatisindia.com

  3. The granite vimana rises in 13 tiers to an octagonal sikhara over the sanctum, and the temple's own inscriptions call it Dakshina Meru, the Meru of the south.

    2 sources for: The granite vimana rises in 13 tiers to an octagonal sikhara over the sanctum, a
    • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250), Statement of Outstanding Universal Value whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Scholarship: ICOMOS, Evaluation of nomination 250 bis: The Great Living Chola Temples (India), March 2004 whc.unesco.org

  4. Eighty-one of the 108 karanas, the classical dance poses, are carved on the walls around the sanctum.

    Source for: Eighty-one of the 108 karanas, the classical dance poses, are carved on the wall
    • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250), Statement of Outstanding Universal Value whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Dravida

The first great example of the Chola temple, which UNESCO reads the Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram temples as developing from. Published heights for the vimana disagree — 59.82 m in UNESCO's statement, about 65 m in the 2004 ICOMOS evaluation, 216 ft on Tamil Nadu Tourism — so no single figure is given here. The enclosure measures roughly 240 m by 120 m (ICOMOS).

  • Tower over the sanctum

    The thirteen-tiered vimana

    The granite tower over the sanctum rising in 13 talas to an octagonal sikhara. Tamil Nadu Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism describe the capstone as weighing nearly 80 tonnes; that figure is not in the UNESCO or ICOMOS texts.

    Where to stand: On the axis inside the eastern gateways, beyond the Nandi pavilion.

    c. 1003–1010 CE

  • Inscription

    Rajaraja's ledger in stone

    Bands of Chola-period Tamil inscription on the base of the central shrine and on the enclosure walls, recording gifts made up to Rajaraja's 29th year; Kundavai's gifts are on the central shrine walls.

    Rajaraja I, 26th–29th regnal years

  • Sculpture

    The 81 karanas

    Eighty-one of the 108 karana dance poses carved on the walls around the garbhagriha.

    Rajaraja I

  • Mural

    Chola paintings under Nayak paintings

    Chola narrative paintings from Rajaraja's time in the passage around the sanctum, partly painted over in the 17th century by Nayak artists. ICOMOS also notes three colossal Siva sculptures in the circumambulatory passage.

    11th century, overpainted 17th century

  • Nandi pavilion

    The monolithic Nandi

    The Nandi facing the sanctum, carved from a single rock.

    Nandi height: 13 ft
    • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "Brihadeeswara Temple" destination page tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
    • Government: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Incredible India, "Brihadeeswarar Temple", Thanjavur destination page incredibleindia.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

  • Temple tank

    Sivaganga Little Fort and tank

    Outside the temple enclosure, the Sivaganga Little Fort and tank built by the Nayaks of Tanjore in the 16th century.

    16th century, Nayak

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

Morning6:00 am – 12:30 pm
Evening4:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Confirm on the day. Times change on festival days and without notice. These times are not from the temple’s own notice.

Before you go

  • No dress code or entry rules have been confirmed for this temple yet. Traditional, modest clothing is always the safe choice; ask at the entrance.

Walking, steps and access

We have not yet confirmed how much walking or climbing is involved, or whether there is wheelchair access. If you are travelling with elders, ask at the temple office or the devasthanam enquiry counter before you set out.

Crowds: The temple remains in active worship while being a protected monument, so ritual hours and monument visiting overlap.

Getting there

  • By train: Thanjavur Railway Station (TJ)
  • By air: Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ)
  • By air: Madurai International Airport (IXM)

PIN 613007 (not yet checked with India Post)

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

The temple’s festival calendar has not been sourced yet.

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

No events in this register have been sourced.

In the historical record

  1. c. 1003–1004

    Construction begins in Rajaraja's 19th year

    Rajaraja I's title Sri-Rajaraja first appears in an inscription of his 19th year (1003 CE), and the editors of SII II conclude that building began then. UNESCO gives the start as possibly the 19th regnal year, 1003–1004 CE.

    2 sources for: Construction begins in Rajaraja's 19th year
    • Inscription: South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. II, Introduction whatisindia.com
    • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250) whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09

  2. 1009–1010

    Consecration in the 25th regnal year

    The copper pot for the pinnacle of the central shrine was given on the 275th day of Rajaraja's 25th year (SII II); UNESCO dates the consecration to that year, 1009–1010 CE.

    2 sources for: Consecration in the 25th regnal year
    • Inscription: South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. II, Introduction whatisindia.com
    • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250) whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09

  3. c. 1500–1599

    Nayaks build the Sivaganga Little Fort and tank

    The Nayaks of Tanjore built the Sivaganga Little Fort and tank outside the temple enclosure in the 16th century. Nayak painters later overpainted parts of the Chola murals in the 17th century (ICOMOS).

    2 sources for: Nayaks build the Sivaganga Little Fort and tank
    • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250) whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Scholarship: ICOMOS, Evaluation of nomination 250 bis: The Great Living Chola Temples (India), March 2004 whc.unesco.org

  4. 1801–1802

    Maratha repairs under Serfoji

    A Maratha inscription dated Saka 1723 (1801–02 CE) records repairs by Sarphoji Maharaja to several shrines, walls and the temple kitchen.

    Source for: Maratha repairs under Serfoji
    • Inscription: South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. II, Introduction whatisindia.com

  5. 1922

    Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India

    ASI protection began in 1922. Today the ASI handles conservation and the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department administers worship.

    Source for: Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India
    • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250), Protection and management whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09

  6. 1987

    Inscribed on the World Heritage List

    The Brihadisvara temple was inscribed in 1987; in 2004 the property was extended to include Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram as the Great Living Chola Temples.

    Source for: Inscribed on the World Heritage List
    • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250) whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09

  7. The king orders all gifts engraved on stone

    On the 20th day of his 26th regnal year Rajaraja ordered every gift to the temple engraved in stone. All his inscriptions here are dated in, or record gifts up to, his 29th year.

    Source for: The king orders all gifts engraved on stone
    • Inscription: South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. II, Introduction whatisindia.com

Around here

Worth the detour

Also in Thanjavur district

Sources

Where this page comes from

  • Inscription: South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. II (Tamil inscriptions of the Rajarajesvara temple at Tanjavur), Introduction whatisindia.com
  • Government: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, "Great Living Chola Temples" (property 250) whc.unesco.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Scholarship: ICOMOS, Evaluation of nomination 250 bis: The Great Living Chola Temples (India), March 2004 whc.unesco.org
  • Government: Tamil Nadu Tourism (Government of Tamil Nadu), "Brihadeeswara Temple" destination page tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09
  • Government: Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Incredible India, "Brihadeeswarar Temple", Thanjavur destination page incredibleindia.gov.in · seen 2026-10-09

Cite this page

Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/brihadeeswarar-thanjavur (accessed ).

Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence