My work hardly left me any time to do sightseeing, but I did managed to get to sneak away for one hour, to visit the Brihadisvara temple in Thanjavur, one of the largest in India (66m high).
Big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, weighs 20 tons, at the entrance measuring about 6m long and 2m high. .jpg)
Made in the 11th century, the entire temple is estimated to weigh 130.000 tonnes. The top is made out of a single piece of granite, which weighs 80 ton, and the closest source for granite is 60km away! It is believed to have been taken to the top by creating an inclined slope to the height of 66m to the top of the gopuram, most likely pulled by elephants. Oh, and did I mention it only took 5 years to build it?
The outer wall of the upper storey is carved with 81 dance karanas – postures of Bharathanatyam, the classical dance of Tamil Nadu. And luck had it there was a performance of this dance just taking place when I was there.
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