Amazing ancient Chola temples, which are located in the South of the Indian subcontinent, have been built for almost two centuries – in the period from the tenth to the twelfth century. The complex is a unique architectural and historical monument, an example of which can be traced to the process of socio-cultural development of the great Tamil Chola Empire.

The first temple complex – Brihadeshwara, was established in the city of Tanjore in 1003-1010, during the reign of king Rajaraja. This is a huge, built in honor of one of the main Hindu deities – Shiva – structure in the Dravidian style, "state" which consisted of several hundred priests, 400 devadasis – dancers who perform sacred ritual dances, and 57 musicians. The revenues of the Church were so huge that they were enough not only to its development but also to provide loans to all in need.

Around the perimeter of the territory belonging to Brihadeshwara, was built high rectangular wall dimensions 270x140 meters. The gates were made in the form of a massive tower-gopuram, whose height is 30 meters. Behind the wall should be the second, more modest size. The temple itself is built of granite slabs and partly of brick. Its spatial location, it is similar to religious buildings of the Pallava dynasty. Inside it is a series of rooms and hallways that lead into the main sanctuary of the temple – pyramid 13-throwaway tower-Vimana. Its height is 60 meters and the summit is crowned by a monolithic stone "dome", weighing about 70 tons. External wall Brihadeshwara decorated with carved columns and panels, granite figures. And inside you can see beautiful statues depicting dancers in 108 poses of ritual dance.

The temple in 1987 he received the status of UNESCO world heritage.