Great Living Chola Temples
If Indian temple architecture is what you fancy, then the Great Living Chola Temples are a must see. The Brihadisvara temple of Thanjavur , the Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram are testimony to the glorious Chola Empire. The Chola Temples of Southern India represent an outstanding creative achievement in the architectural conception of the pure form of the Dravida type of temple. The temples testify to the Cholas brilliant achievements in architecture, sculpture, painting, and bronze casting.

The Brihadisvara Temple : It was the first of them all. Built by the greatest of Chola rulers, Rajaraja, the temple was named after him as Rajarajesvaram. Later on, it became known as the Brihadisvara temple meaning the temple of the Great Isvara (god). Th Temples was just any holy place where God was revered. It was a lifestyle statement which influenced the communal fabric back then.

The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram : Built by Rajendra I the temple was completed in 1035. Its 53-m vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with the straight and severe tower at Thanjavur. It has six pairs of massive, monolithic dvarapalas statues guarding the entrances and bronzes of remarkable beauty inside.

The Airavatesvara Temple : Built by Rajaraja II, the temple features a 24-m vimana and a stone image of Shiva. The temples testify to the Cholas brilliant achievements in architecture, sculpture, painting, and bronze casting.

You can access The Chola Temples from the Tiruchirapalli Airport and is 58 kms from Thanjavur. By rail you can access it from Trichy, Madurai , Nagore and Chennai directly.

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Monuments at Hampi
The fall of the glorious Krishna Deva Raya empire in 1565 left this World Heritage Site in ruins. The Tungabhadra River swirls and curves through the barren, rocky landscape as the monuments of the Vijaynagar Empire lie within the villages of Hampi and Kamalapuram in Karnataka. The royal enclosure houses massive fortifications, audience halls, pavilions, public baths, bastions, watchtowers, bathing areas and imperial temples. The Hampi monuments are the perfect example of the adept craftsmanship and engineering skills of the workers who had it in their sweat and blood to create one of the finest Empires known to mankind.

When in Hampi do visit the:

Pushkarini Pool
The intricate water channels and water tanks through which water flowed freely have run dry to tell stories of a splendid past. The elaborate water channels were designed with finesse.

Queens Bath
Just before the Citadel you will come across the Queens Bath, which is one of the most elaborate of them all. The plain exteriors hide the world from the vast bathing area that is designed with the finest architecture and design element.

Hazara Rama Temple
Said to be the royal chapel, the Hazara Rama Temple literally means a Thousand Ramas. This is the only temple in Hampi where the exterior walls have boldly chiseled bas-reliefs that are narrative in nature. The Ramayana epic is carved in detail. The temple makes a magnificent site.

The Temple Area
The Virupaksha, the Vitthala and the Krishna temples are a treat to your eye. The South Indian styled temples have vast walls and soaring gopurams (gateways) that welcome you to the venture through the various monuments in Hampi.

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Monuments at Mahabalipuram
Here is where the stones come to life with the intricate carvings of rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous ‘Descent of the Ganges ‘, and the temple of Rivage , with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva. Situated 60 km south of Chennai this group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings was carved out of rock along the Coromandel Coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. Recent excavations to the north and south of the Shore Temple have revealed rock-cut figures representing religious themes of period prior to the construction to the temple. Mahabalipuram is a never dying story of the glorious days of the Pallavas and its craftsmen who painstakingly carved out each sculpture on the virgin rocks.
The eye-pleasing sites in Mahabalipuram are:

Shore Temple : The temple is the perfect example of the structural architecture in sculpturing used by the Pallavas ages before. The entire Shore Temple is carved from a single piece of stone and has stood for more than 1400 years. The entrances are guarded by sculptures of mythical deities. The Pancha Pandava Rathas is the main attraction and a treat to any eye.

Pancha Pandava Rathas: The five “rathas” (chariots) dating from the 7th century depict the life of Pandavas of Mahabharata fame. The five rathas are known for its attention to detail.

Arjuna’s Penance: A giant bas-relief filled with detailed carvings, including a family of elephants and monkeys.

Mahishamardini Cave : Head to the light house to visit the marvellous cave. You can see Durga riding the lion and Vishnu reclining on the serpent sculpted out of virgin rocks.

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Monuments at Pattadakal
Every dynasty or empire in India has contributed to its beauty with mammoth architectural and artistic wonders. And, the group of monuments at Pattadakal in Karnataka, represents the high point of an eclectic art which, in the 7th and 8th centuries under the Chalukya dynasty. Set in the Deccan plateau, the sunflower and cotton fields decorating the road, you will find the dramatic gorge between two sandstone hills. The harmonious blend of architectural forms of the northern Indian Nagara and southern Indian Dravida art forms are perfectly juxtaposed to create an impressive series of nine Hindu temples, as well as a Jain sanctuary. The ten temples here live up to the Chalukyan reputation for eclecticism.

The Temple of Virupaksha , built by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband’s victory over the kings from the South is a display of ancient Chalukya temple architecture at its best. The architecture of this age-old wonder has influeneced many others for e.g. the Kailasa temple at Ellora. The Mallikarjuna Temple is on the same lines as that of Virupaksha. Both temples are a showcase of Shaivite imagery at its best.

The Sangameshvara Temple , Kashivisvanatha temple, Mallikarjuna Temple , Galganatha temple, Kadasiddeshvara temple, Jambulinga Temple , the Jain Temple , and the Papanatha temple are the other attractions at Pattadakal.

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