The Gangaikondacholapuram Temple, Tamil Nadu Invites Tourists to its Fabulous Architecture

The Gangaikondacholapuram Temple is an outstanding monument of the Chola period. The name literally means ‘The town of the Cholas who defeated the Gangas’. Gangaikondacholisvaram temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site and a living sample of the Great Living Chola Temples.

The temple was erected by Rajendra Chola to rival the temple constructed by his predeccessor at Thanjavur. The Gangaikondacholapuram monument resembles that at Thanjavur in most of its essential features, but there are some notable innovations. The temple spared restoration during the Nayaka era.

A rectangular enclosure holds the temple from east to the gateway. The temple stands in the middle of a rectangular enclosure entrance from the east through a gateway which has now become a bit dilapidated. The temple consists of a square sanctuary surrounded by a passageway; this adjoins a transept with access stairs on the north and south. Extending eastwards is the partly restored columned mandapa.

At Thanjavur, the double pilastered walls of the sanctuary are elevated on a moulded basement with lions and scroll-work beneath and yalis and makaras aligned on the topmost moulding. Both storeys are overhung by curved eaves. The pilastered projections house fully modelled sculptures. Those in the central niches, on both storeys, depict Dakshinamoorthi(south), Vishnu(west) and Brahma(north).

The temple niches house Shiva images which are splendid poised. The dancing posed on the dwarf (west end of south wall) and the composition that depicts the god bestowing a wreath on the saint Chandesha. The walls are covered with miniature figures carved on to blocks.

The transept is protected by large guardian figures and can be entered through a gateway. Only the two-storey walls at the western end of the mandapa are preserved;sculpture panels here represent Lakshmi(south) and Saraswathi(north). The main entrance is from the eastern end of and is by two protected figures.

The huge ling placed on a circular pedestal is enshrined within the sanctuary. The columns of the mandapa include figures of Shiva with Uma, Subramnya and Devi and the stone alter is carved with a lotus on the top has the Navagrahas carved on to the sides.

The other too shrines also within the enclosure are dedicated to Kailasnatha. They are identical in form. The sancturies have small towers with hemispherical roofs (the plasterwork is later). Fine sculptures are preserved on the pilastered walls.

In front of the temples stand detached columned mandapas, one of which has mostly collapsed. Another small structure in the south-west corner of the enclosure houses a Ganesha image. A large Nandi sculpture constructed of blockes is placedin front (east) of the principal temple.

A circular wall is in the north of the Nandi; its entrance is contained within a small structure fashioned as seated lion.