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SOUTH INDIA - THANJAVUR
Thanjavur, formerly Tanjore, is a town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is located in the Cavery delta, some 350 km south of Chennai (formerly Madras). The city is one of the main cultural and artistic centres of Tamil Nadu.
The city is notorious for being the ‘rice bowl of South India’. But Thanjavur is also famous for one of the great architectural wonders of the region, one of the masterpieces bequeathed by the prolific Chola dynasty, the great Brihadeswara temple.
Thanjavur was at the height of its glory during the medieval period of the Chola dynasty between the second half of the 9th century and the beginning of the 10th century. It was the most important city in the empire. The Chola dynasty was succeeded by the Nayaks, who ruled the city from the 14th century onwards. They made it the capital of their kingdom. The Marathas took control of the city in 1674 and gradually succeeded the Nayaks in the region. The Nayaks ruled Thanjavur until 1855, when the British annexed the city.
The Brihadīśvara temple is an exemplary achievement of the Chola style of religious architecture. It is one of the largest temples in India. It is dedicated to the god Shiva. This temple played a dominant role in the life of the city, being at the centre of social, economic and political activities.
As ardent devotees of Shiva, the Cholas wanted to build this temple as an energy centre, comparable to Mount Kailash or Uttara Meru in northern India. In Shivaist belief, Mount Meru is considered to be the backbone of the Universe, and is also the celestial abode of Shiva. It is for this reason that Dakshina Meru was the name given to the temple - Dakshina meaning South and Meru, mountain.
A grandiose project and a magnificent example of Dravidian architecture, its construction was completed in 1011, during the reign of Raja Raja Chola I (985-1014), conqueror of Orissa and Ceylon - now Sri Lanka.
Nandi
The Sanskrit word nandi means joy, satisfaction. Nandi is Shiva's mount. He is the divine, immaculate bull, Shiva's protector. For this reason, he is often depicted reclining at the entrance to temples dedicated to Shiva. The monumental bull facing the sanctuary is one of the largest in South India.
Vinama
Surrounded by large fortified walls and built entirely of large granite blocks, the great tower of the central temple, in the form of a pyramid or vimana, stands 66 metres high and is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Each floor of the vinama is magnificently decorated with a multitude of divinities and celestial beings. Its summit is topped by a gold-covered spire, donated by Raja Raja Chola I when construction work was completed.
World Famous Ceylon Tea
VSL Travel & Tours International (Pvt) Ltd
VSL Travels & Tours Int'l (Pvt) Ltd is a registered Tour Operator (Reg No: PV 99322) in Sri Lanka. We specialize in Inbound and Outbound Tours,Money Exchange, Ticketing, and Ground Handling. The Inbound division organizes local sightseeing tours, adventurous tours, Eco and Agro-tourism; catering to a wide target audience. The Agency also caters to specialized incentive trips to all parts of Sri Lanka. VSL Travels & Tours Int'l (Pvt) Ltd Ltd has been in operation since 2014. Led by a team of dynamic individuals with vast experience in the tourism industry, the company has flourished to its present status.
Hotline : +94113028888
Email : info@vsltravels.com
Website : www.vsltravels.com
World Famous Ceylon Tea
VSL Travel & Tours International (Pvt) Ltd
VSL Travels & Tours Int'l (Pvt) Ltd is a registered Tour Operator (Reg No: PV 99322) in Sri Lanka. We specialize in Inbound and Outbound Tours,Money Exchange, Ticketing, and Ground Handling. The Inbound division organizes local sightseeing tours, adventurous tours, Eco and Agro-tourism; catering to a wide target audience. The Agency also caters to specialized incentive trips to all parts of Sri Lanka. VSL Travels & Tours Int'l (Pvt) Ltd Ltd has been in operation since 2014. Led by a team of dynamic individuals with vast experience in the tourism industry, the company has flourished to its present status.
Hotline : +94113028888
Email : info@vsltravels.com
Website : www.vsltravels.com