This Temple is also called as Brihadheswara Temple or Big Temple or Raja Rajeswaram or Peruvudaiyar Temple.  It was built in Tanjavur by the Great Chola Emporer, King Raja Raja Cholan and he was ably supported and assisted in this by his sister Kundavai Nachiyar.  The Temple is located on the Southern Bank of River Cauvery.  The Presiding Deity is Lord Shiva who stands 12 feet tall as a Shiva Lingam.  This Shivalingam is considered to be one of the tallest in India.  A Nandhi Vahanam which also stands 12 feet tall is placed on a pedestal and faces the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple.  The Temple has a huge moat that was built in those days to safeguard this Temple from the enemy onslaught.  Apart from this there is a huge compond wall and a massive gate to protect it.  The entire Temple was built with granite stones weighing more than 1,30,000 tonnes.  The wonder in this is that no stones are available at any nearby places in and around a 100 Kms from Thanjavur.  The Temple's unique feature is that it never casts its shadow on the earth on any given day.  The entire Temple construction was taken care by King Raja Raja Chola's Architect Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan who had built it in a typical Chola style.  It is a great wonder as to how the Vimanam stone with a height of around 216 feet was lifted to this extent with effortless ease in those days when no devices were available to do this work. The Temple mainly subscribes to the Shaivism and there are certain other mandapams which were added to this Temple in the later years by the then Rulers.  There are Sub Shrines for Goddess Parvathi, Goddess Varahi Amman, Ganesan, Murugan, Dhakshinamoorthy, Chandikeshwar and Karuvoorar.   UNESCO has taken over the complete maintenance and supervision of this Temple since it has been declared as a World Heritage Site.   The Temple has a well maintained Nandhavanam or Temple Garden.  The Temple stands first amongst the Tourist attractions and is thronged not only by Hindu Devotees but by tourists from India and Abroad.  It also withstood the attack by the Muslim invaders.  Like the Cholas who built the Temple the later Maratas and Nayak Rulers too had a hand in building this Temple.  The Temple is currently monitored under the watchful eyes of Babaji Bhonsle who is the Head of the Thanjavur Marata Royal Family.

Contact Details: 04362  274476 and 93810 69919 

Temple Timing: 6 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 PM to 8:30 PM

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Distance from Punnainallur to Thanjavur is 8 Kms

Distance from Kumbakonam to Thanjavur is 40 Kms

Distance from Thirunageswaram to Thanjavur is 49 Kms

Distance from Varagur to Thanjavur is 25 Kms

Distance from Thingalur to Thanjavur is 16 Kms

Distance from Chidambaram to Thanjavur is 110 Kms

Distance from Vadalur to Thanjavur is 113 Kms

\Distance from Neyveli to Thanjavur is 120 Kms

Distance from Cuddalore to Thanjavur is 152 Kms

Distance from Vikravandi to Thanjavur is 190 Kms

Distance from Mannargudi to Thanjavur is 39 Kms

Distance from Pudukkottai to Thanjavur is 68 Kms

Distance from Pattukkottai to Thanjavur is 49 Kms

Distance from Tiruchirapalli to Thanjavur is 57 Kms

Distance from Kulithalai to Thanjavur is 96 Kms

Distance from Karur to Thanjavur is 137 Kms

Distance from Samayapuram to Thanjavur is 68 Kms

Distance from Nattarasankottai to Thanjavur is 142 Kms

Distance from Kancheepuram to Thanjavur is 263 Kms

Distance from Mangadu to Thanjavur is 302 Kms

Distance from Vangal to Thanjavur is 158 Kms

Distance from Chennai to Thanjavur is 320 Kms

Nearest Railway Station is Thanjavur Jn.

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