Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Airavateeswara temple


The vimanam of the Airavateeswara temple at Darasuram, near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. Chola architecture of the 12th Century AD. A UNESCO protected heritage siteThe old district of Thanjvur in Tamil Nadu has hundreds of temples of varied antiquity. The temples at Thanjavur, Gangai konda Cholpuram, Darasuram and Thibhuvanam were built during the reigns of the Cholas- Raja Raja Cholan I (985-1014AD), Rajendra Cholan (1014-1044AD), Raja Raja Cholan II (1146-1173 AD) and Kulottunga Cholan (1178-1218 AD) respectively. Unlike traditional Tamil Temples, these four temples have taller Vimanams (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) compared the the Gopurams (tower above the entrance) . The Vimanam of Darasuram is 85 feet tall whereas the one in Thanjavur is 216 feet tall. Hope you will have an opportunity to visit Tamil Nadu.

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