Airavatheeswara Temple
Introduction Airavatheeswara Temple
Airavatheeswara Temple is located in Dharasuram and was built by Raja Raja II. Airavatheeswara Temple is the manifestation of the grandeur reflected in the Chola architecture and has been declared as the world heritage monument by UNESCO.
The vimanam of the Airavatheeswara Temple shoots up to a height of 23 meters. There is one ardha Mandapam and a Maha Mandapam with a hundred pillars. The outer walls of the Maha Mandapam and the garba griha are graced with sculptures that speak volumes about the artistic skills of the craftsman of that time. Apart from these there are the beautifully carved panels inside that Maha Mandapam, the pillars and the walls of the enclosure to be marveled at.
You can't give the statue of Annapoorani in the ardha Mandapam a miss. It is yet another manifestation of the superb artistry of the period. It is a wonderful piece of sculpture that depicts Annapoorani with a beaming smile, a brass vessel on his left hand and a lotus on her right hand. The chariot like projections in the eastern and the western side are reminiscent of the twelve other Chola temples. The wheels and the spokes exemplify a rare finesse on the part of the artist.
The most captivating of all things at Airavatheeswara Temple are perhaps the tread stones housed within the Nandi enclosure. Gentle and soothing musical notes waft out from them and the melody generated testify to the unparalleled engineering skills of the master craftsmen.
How to Reach the Airavatheeswara Temple
Road
The nearest town, Thanjavur has road links to all the major cities in Tamilnadu and neighboring states.
Rail
Connected by rail with Trichy, Madurai and Chennai directly.
Air
The nearest airport, Tiruchirapalli, is 58 km away and connects important cities of Tamilnadu and neighboring states.
