Gangaikondacholapuram was established as a capital city by the Chola ruler Rajendra I (1012-44). The reason to come here is to see the huge magnificent Brihadiswara Temple. The name of this town means “the town of the Chola who conquered the Ganga.” There is a huge temple tank that had pots of water from the Ganges emptied into it by subser­vient kings to the Chola court.     

Beside the Brihadiswara temple, there is not much to see except a few ruins and the Archaeological Museum, two minutes east along the main road. The temple is closed between noon and 4 pm. There is nothing in the town other than a few cold drink stands.

Gangaikondacholapuram is 61km northeast of Thanjavur (Tanjore) and 35km northeast of Kumbakonam. There are regular buses to Kumbakonam (every hour) and a few to Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) and Chidambaram. It is a good idea to bring a torch (flashlight) with you, as parts of the temple can be dark.

Brihadiswara Temple
Brihadiswara Temple is a large Siva temple that can be seen from a distance because of its enormous 55m high vimana (tower over the altar). Rajendra Chola built this temple in 1025 to celebrate his victorious expedition to the River Ganges. This magnificent temple was built in the same design as the Brihadiswara Temple in Thanjavur, which was built by his father. The temple has a huge wall resembling a fort and an assembly hall containing over 150 pillars. It has many detailed impressive sculptures on it.

You enter the temple compound through the east gopuram and then you can see the huge Nandi facing the inner sanctum. When you enter the temple there is a shrine dedicated to the goddess Durga in the form of Mahishasuramardini. There is a shrine that houses Kailasanath. Kailasanath is a name for Lord Siva, who is the lord (natha) of Kailash (a mountain in the Himalaya where Siva lives). The Ganesh temple in the southwest part of the temple is interesting.

The main mandapa (hall) and inner sanctum are 100m long and 40m wide. You pass two huge dwarapalas (doorkeepers), when you enter the closed mandapa. The inner sanctum has a massive Siva-linga enshrined in it, but the temple is no longer used for worship. On the northeast wall is a carving of Siva blessing Chandikesvara, one of his main followers, which is considered a masterpiece of Chola art. This hall has many impressive sculptures. There are sculptures of lions along the base of the main temple sanctum.

The temple is open daily 6 am to noon and 4 to 8 pm.

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