The iconic Chola temples ..Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram .. are among the most amazing structures in India. I have visited all three, and used to drive down to Thanjavur from Trichy many an evening, when I was FACT's Regional Manager in the late 1960s. The first two Brihadeswara temples were built by Rajaraja I in 1010, and son Rajendra in 1040, while Darasuram's Airavateshwara was built 100 years later by Rajaraja II.
Apart from their sheer architectural beauty, as a civil engineer, I was struck by the technology used which was far in advance of the times. Even today, we are left awestruck by the feat of rolling the huge 85 tonne sikara up a 6.5 km long ramp!
The earliest known Chola was Karikala ( burnt leg) of the Sangam period who built the Grand Anicut on the Kaveri later in 10 AD. However, it was only centuries later (circa 850), that Vijalaya established a small kingdom in Thanjavur, which grew into a mighty empire. What a wonderful history Tamilnadu has!
But I am reserving the feats of the Cholas as grand builders and mighty conquerors for another day.
JPA
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