Great Living Chola Temples: Tamil Nadu's three UNESCO temple complexes
Background
The Great Living Chola Temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu, inscribed in 1987 with boundary modifications in 2004. They comprise the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. The Thanjavur temple was erected under King Rajaraja I and has a 59.82-metre vimana. The Gangaikondacholisvaram temple was completed in 1035 by Rajendra I. The Darasuram temple was built by Rajaraja II and has a 24-metre vimana.
Components:
3 temple complexes
Thanjavur vimana height:
59.82 m
Darasuram vimana height:
24 m
Inscribed:
1987
Why it matters for exams: UNESCO World Heritage sites and Dravida temple architecture are staple questions in state-level and UPSC culture papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC