Brihadeshwara Temple, built by Raja Raja Chola I in 1010, is an ancient temple  in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The deity of the temple is Lord Shiva in a dance pose called  Nataraj. This temple is also known as Rajeswara Temple, Rajarajeswaram and Periya Kovil. The temple was built like a fortress on the banks of the river by the king to honor the Chola Empire. This thousand-year-old temple is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, adding to its extraordinary historical and cultural value.

    The main attraction of Temple is the 216-foot pagoda built over the temple's sanctuary. This gorgeous tower can be seen from afar by anyone entering the city. Another amazing thing that surprises visitors is the magnificent Nandi statue built into the temple. It is 2 meters high, 6 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, and weighs  20 tons for a  single stone statue. The outer walls of the upper floors of the temple are carefully carved with various poses of the famous classical dance Bharatanatyam.

   There are several shrines added to the temple by most of the following rulers like Pandyas, rulers of Vijayanagara, and Marathas. The architecture of the  temple offers countless surprises to those who see this majestic temple. Another important architectural feature of the temple is that the temple's shadow does not fall to the ground at noon. The architecture of the temple is  so clever that it does not cast shadows on the ground when the sun is at its highest point. This is a phenomenon that attracts thousands of tourists and architecture enthusiasts from all over the world to uncover the architectural mysteries of the temple.

   Brihadeshwara Temple is also the first  temple in the world made entirely of granite and the fact that there is no granite within 100 miles of he temple  makes this temple all the more amazing. Granite is as difficult to transport as it is to carve, but  that didn't seem to stop the king from realising the temple  he envisioned.

   When the temple was built in 1010 AD, it was the tallest temple ever in India  and  took him only seven years to complete. The top structure of the temple, called Vimana, weighs about 80 tons, and how its builders built it is a mystery. There are several musical pillars in the temple that make different sounds when picked up. Anyone who visits will understand that this temple is a magnificent testament to the magnificent South Indian architecture.