Built by Rajaraja I at the beginning of the 11th century, the Brihadishvara temple in Thanjavur is a remarkable example of Chola art and architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. The temple, which stands 60 meters tall, was once India’s largest and featured grand gateways
and a 200-foot-tall granite tower. Its dome, which weighs over 80 tons, needed a temporary 4-mile-long sloping ramp for installation. The temple’s interior houses a 13-foot-tall lingam that represents Shiva. The walls are decorated with traditional murals. In the 17th century, a shrine and pavilion were added for a stone Nandi.