India is home to many of the great civilizations of the ancient world. The modern world still reaps many of the legacies these ancient civilizations built, including the architecture they have left us. The Taj Mahal, the Mahabodhi, and the Ajanta Caves are some of the many buildings that detail the India’s rich history and heritage.
Image from pixabay
Southwest of Chennai is another venerable marvel: The Great Living Chola Temples.
Built in the around 10th - 12th century, the temples have now been declared a World Heritage site, a fitting testament to their beauty and the preservation of Tamil heritage. There are three temples that make up the entirety of the temple complex, namely Brihadisvara, Airavatesvara, and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Brihadisvara
Image from flickr
Airavatesvara
Image from flickr
To get there, you can use the railway system or through the Tiruchirappalli International Airport. By railway, you can stop by Trichy Junction. Brihadisvara in Thanjavur is close to the station. You can simply follow the signs leading to Brihadisvara. To travel from one temple to another, you can take the buses and fares are from 20 to 60 Indian rupees or less than one USD.
An ideal trip is to start with Brihadisvara as this is the largest of the three temples if you are set to explore the temples for two days. Unlike other temples, there are no entrance fees here and no restrictions for non-Hindu worshippers.
Image from pixabay
You just need to remove your footwear as is customary in most Hindu temples and deposit them for a small fee. From Brihadisvara, you can take the green striped SETC buses for Jayamkondan for 20 rupees. Ask the driver or the bus conductor to stop at Gangaikondacholapuram. On the other hand, Airavatesvara is in Darusam and you can still take the same green buses but for Kumbokonam. Ask the driver or the bus conductor to stop at Darasuram. From Darasuram, it is a 7-minute walk to the temple.
For a one-day trip and if you used the railway, you can explore Brihadisvara followed by Airavateshwara and then Gangaikondacholapuram. There are also several tours that you can take advantage of if you are looking for ease and convenience. Most tours include an overnight stay in a hotel, hotel pickups, and bus shuttles from one temple to the next.
Image from flickr
Image from flickr
The best times to visit are early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Most temples open at 6:30 AM and close at 8:30PM. The temples close at noon though and open at 4PM. This is for a good reason too, as visiting at noon can be very hot. During the visit, pay close attention to the sculpted carvings on the walls.
These Temples are known for the intricately carved stones that make up the temples. In all three temples, you will see Shiva lingams with the tallest one in Gangaikondacholapuram. Various stories of Hindu gods and goddesses are portrayed on the walls of the temples. In Airavatesvara, you will see a huge chariot drawn by four horses. The temples will definitely leave you in awe and wonder.
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( All images found in google image search and I added images source with the website name. These images are not mine. if there have any false details in this article , please accept my apologies )