CHOLA

DYNASTY
AP-124
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

MADE BY – KRISHNA SHARMA

 CHOLA DYNASTY?
The Chola Dynasty was a Tamil thalassocratic empire of southern India,
one of the longest-ruling dynasties in world history. The earliest datable
references to the Chola are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE left by
Ashoka, of the Maurya Empire. As one of the Three Crowned Kings of Chola dynasty
Tamilaka , along with the Chera and Pandya, the dynasty continued to
govern over varying territory until the 13th century CE. Despite these One of the Three Crowned
ancient origins, the period when it is appropriate to speak of a "Chola Kings (dynasties) of
Tamilakam
Empire" only begins with the medieval Cholas in the mid-9th century CE.
 LOCATION OF TEMPLE
 THANJAVUR, TAMILNADU

 ABOUT 1 KM FROM THE

THANJAVUR BUSTAND

 LOCATION COORDINATES
 10.7828° N, 79.1318° E

 CHOLA EMPIRE 
DRAVIDIAN
ARCHITECTURE
 BRIEF HISTORY OF TEMPLE
 A magnificient edifice with it’s
majestic
vimana,sculptures,architectur
e & frescoes.

 Wealth & richness of tamil

inscriptions engraved in super
calligraphy.

 Built in 10th century B.C

 Approximately 1010 C.E

 Millenium commemoration on
September 2010.
INITIALLY NAMED AS RAJA RAJESHWARAM BY THE CHOLA’S AND  UNESCO world heritage site.
RENAMED AS BRIHADESGWARA BY THE MARATHAS.
ABOUT THE TEMPLE
 216 feet High Temple ( app.66m)

 12 feet High Vigraha ( LORD SHIVA

SHRINE)

 18 feet Deep Foundation

 1 LORD SHIVA SHRINE

 12 UYIR EZHUTHUKAL

 18 MEI EZHUTHUKAL

 216 UYIR MEI EZIHUTHUKAL

 1 AAYUTHA EZHUTHU 247 m ( TOTAL) = DISTANCE BETWEEN LINGA AND NANDHI

STRUCTURAL ELEVATION AND PLAN
OTRAI KAL NANDHI
 NANDHI IS A SACRED BULL IN
HINDU MYTHOLOGY.

 CARVED OUT OF A SINGLE

ROCK

 16 feet LONG (4.9m)

 13 feet HIGH (4.0m)

 SAID TO BE GROWING

 A PHENOMENOL WEATHERING
ACTION

 CONSPIRACY OVER OTRAI KAL

NANDHI

 ORIGINAL OTRAI KAL NANDHI

THE VIMANA
 AN ENGINEERING WONDER  STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS OF VIMANA

 BIGGEST MYSTERY  HUGE CAP STONE ON TOP

OF VIMANA

 A SINGLE STONE CAP OF 80 TONNES WEIGHT

RESTED ON THE 16 STOREY

 SCIENTISTS BAFFLE ON HOW IT WENT THAT

HIGH

 MANY THEORIES WERE PROPOSED ON HOW IT

WENT THAT HIGH…

 HOW EQUILIBRIUM IS MAINTAINED THERE…?

 SHADOW DOES NOT FALL ON THE GROUND 

INSTEAD FALL ON ITSELF.
GRANITE CRAVINGS
PAINTING AND MURALS
INSCRIPTIONS ON WALLS
SCULPTURES
Thank you