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The Chola Empire (Tamil: சோழர் Cōḻar) was the most powerful empire of Southern India. At the zenith of its power in the 9th-10th centuries, the empire ruled almost the entire South, with its influence spreading as far east as Sumatra, western Borneo and southern Vietnam in Southeast Asia. Around 1070, the empire lost most of its territory to the Pandya Empire, leading to the downfall of the Cholas.
The Chola period saw the construction of many of southern India's greatest monuments, as well as a flourishing of Tamil literature. Some of the grandest Hindu and Jain monuments that exist in India were built during this time.
Understand
[edit | edit source]The Cholas (Tamil: CHOH-rruhr or SOH-rruhr) were one of the three ancient South Indian dynasties, the other two being the Cheras and Pandyas. The Cholas ruled from various cities in present-day Tamil Nadu, including Thanjavur (Tanjore) and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Destiantions
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Great Living Chola Temples
[edit | edit source]The Great Living Chola Temples is a 
UNESCO World Heritage Site, made up of three temples across Tamil Nadu.
- 1 Brihadisvara Temple (பெருவுடையார் கோயில் Peruvuṭaiyār Kōyil), Thanjavur. One of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of fully-realised Tamil architecture. Built by Rajaraja Chola I between 1003 and 1010. The original monuments of this 11th century temple were built around a moat. It included gopura, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures predominantly related to Shaivism, but also of Vaishnvaism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism. The temple was damaged in its history and some artwork is now missing. Additional mandapam and monuments were added in centuries that followed. The temple now stands amidst fortified walls that were added after the 16th century.
- 2 Brihadisvara Temple (கங்கைகொண்ட சோழீசுவரர் கோயில் Kaṅkaikoṇṭa Cōḻīcuvarar Kōyil), Gangaikonda Cholapuram. This temple was completed in 1035 by Rajendra Chola I as a part of his new capital, this Chola dynasty era temple is similar in design and has a similar name as the 11th century.
- 3 Airavatesvara Temple (ஐராவதேசுவரர் கோயில் Airāvatecuvarar Kōyil), Kumbakonam. Completed in 1166, the Shiva temple is one among a cluster of eighteen large medieval Hindu temples in Kumbakonam. It also reverentially displays Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism, along with the legends associated with sixty three Nayanars – the Bhakti movement saints of Shaivism.
Other destinations
[edit | edit source]- 4 Bangalore (பெங்களூர் Peṅkaḷūr). The Cholas ruled the capital of Karnataka for nearly a century after defeating the Western Ganga Empire, and many of the temples in the city date from this period, including the Halasuru Someshwara Temple, Domlur Chokkanathaswamy Temple, Kengeri Eshwara Temple, Dharmesvara Temple, Madiwala Someshwara Temple and Marathahalli Someshwara Temple. They were later renovated by Hoysala and Vijayanagara dynasties. The nearby Hosur contains the Chandra Choodeswarar Temple.
- 5 Kallanai Dam (near Tiruchirappalli). An ancient dam across the Kaveri River, built by Karikala in 150. It is the oldest active dam in India.
- 6 Koneswaram Temple (திருக்கோணேச்சரம் கோயில் Tirukkōṇēccaram Kōyil), Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.
- 7 Poompuhar. At the mouth of the Kaveri, the town was once a flourishing port city and the early Chola capital, connecting South India with regions like Southeast Asia, Greece and Rome. The city was disappeared by periodic tsunamis around 300 BCE, and nothing much of it remains.
- 8 Srikalahasteeswara Temple, Srikalahasti. Srikalahasti is one of the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, i.e. place representing one of the five elements of nature. Kalahasti represents vāyu (wind). This temple is famous for the Rahu Ketu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana pooja. Though there are other minor poojas also, the Sarpa Dosha Nivarana pooja is classified as a combination of all the other poojas (rituals). It was renovated by Rajendra Chola I around the 11th century and constructed the main structure.
- 9 Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram. The temple complex is spread over an area of 40 acres (160,000 m²) in the heart of the city. The main complex is dedicated to Shiva Nataraja and the complex contains shrines to deities such as Shivakami Amman, Ganesh, Murugan and Vishnu in the form Govindaraja Perumal. The golden tiled roof for the Chit Ambalam (the vimanam) was laid by the Chola King Parantaka I (907-950 CE). Donations of gold and jewels have been made by various kings, rulers and patrons to the temple from 9th to 16th century and by the British. In the Chidambaram temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of sky.
