News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the ancient Shiva temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu.
About Gangaikonda Cholapuram
- Location: It is located in the Udayarpalayam taluk of Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu.
- Built by: Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1012-1044 CE)
- Name: The name “Gangaikonda Cholapuram” means “the city of the Chola who conquered the Ganga”, referring to Rajendra I’s military expedition to northern India, during which pots of Ganga water were brought back to the south.
- As a Chola capital: Rajendra I shifted the Chola capital from Thanjavur to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, which remained the imperial capital for over 250 years.
- It was built to commemorate his victory over the Pala Dynasty and the water from the river Ganga was brought to this place.
- The city is referred to as Gangapuri in Kalingattuparani, composed by Jayankondar.
- Importance: It was the second largest and important city in the 11th-12th Centuries and the centre of political, commercial and cultural activities, like Madurai in Pandyanadu and Karur in Cheranadu.
- Architectural features
- The city was fortified with both inner and outer defensive walls, as revealed by archaeological excavations.
- The outer fortification was made of burnt bricks, measuring six to eight feet in width and filled with sand between two layers of brick walls.
- Chola Gangam Lake: According to Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates, it was dug by King Rajendra Chola I to celebrate his northern campaign.
- It is now known as Ponneri Lake.
- Temple: The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple or the Brihadisvara Temple was built by Rajendra Chola I in his capital.
- It rivals the Rajarajeswaram (also known as Brihadisvara Temple) built by his father in Thanjavur.
- The temple is part of the “Great Living Chola Temples”, a group of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that also includes the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur and the Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram.
- Archeological and literary evidences
- The Tiruvalangadu, Esalam, and Karanthai Copper Plates, several inscriptions, and literary works provide the evidences of the Brihadisvara Temple.
- An elaborate description of the citadel comes from Muvar Ula of Ottakuttar.
- Rajaraja Cholan Ula gives an account of almost all the important places of the city.
