Category:Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple

**Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple**
	an 11th century Chola Hindu temple, UNESCO world heritage site
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Instance of	Hindu temple;
Part of	Great Living Chola Temples;
Location	Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India
Founded by	Rajendra Chola I;
Heritage designation	Monument of National Importance; part of UNESCO World Heritage Site (The Brihadisvara Temple Complex, Gangaikondacholapuram, Great Living Chola Temples, 2004–);
Inception	1035;
Significant event	UNESCO World Heritage Site record modification (2004);
Area	2.4 ha (World Heritage Site); 2.9 ha (UNESCO World Heritage Site buffer zone);
	11° 12′ 22.7″ N, 79° 26′ 54.41″ E
Authority file
	Q5521034;
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<nowiki>Templo Gangaikondacholisvaram; গঙ্গাইকোণ্ড চোলপুরম বৃহদীশ্বর মন্দির; Brihadishvara-Tempel; गङ्गईकोण्ड चोलपुरम मन्दिर; Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram; 布里哈迪希瓦拉神廟; Tempelj Brihadisvara v Gangaikonda Čolapuram; Brihadishvara-Tempel (Gangaikonda Cholapuram); கங்கைகொண்ட சோழீசுவரர் கோயில்; معبد جانجاكوندا تشولابورام; Brihadishvara-Tempel; מקדש גנגאיקונדה; Брихадишвара Гыйбадәтханәсе, Гангайкода Чолапурам; 康凱康達秋里斯瓦拉姆神廟; बृहदीश्वर मन्दिर, गंगैकोण्ड चोलपुरम; Templo Gangaikondaĉolapuramo; ഭ്രീഹതീശ്വര ക്ഷേത്രം; Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple; Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram; 康凯康达秋里斯瓦拉姆神庙; Brihadishvara-Tempel (Gangaikonda Cholapuram); ভারতের তামিলনাড়ুর একটি হিন্দু মন্দির; temple en Inde; kuil; מקדש צ'ולה הינדי מהמאה ה-11, אתר מורשת עולמית של אונסק"ו; गंगैकोण्ड चोलपुरम, अरियलूर ज़िला, भारत पर स्थित एक हिन्दू(शिव) मन्दिर; indische religiöse Stätte und Hindu-Tempel in Gangaikonda Cholapuram; ଭାରତର ଏକ ହିନ୍ଦୁ ମନ୍ଦିର; an 11th century Chola Hindu temple, UNESCO world heritage site; معبد هندوسي في ضاحية أريلور، الهند; ११हम् शताब्दी केर चोल हिन्दू मन्दिर, यूनेस्को विश्व धरोहर स्थल; அரியலூர் மாவட்டத்திலுள்ள சிவன் கோயில்; Gagaikonda-solapuram temple; Brihadeeswarar Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple; Gangaikondacholesvarar temple; Gangapuri Shiva temple; 康凯康达秋里斯瓦拉姆神庙; கங்கைகொண்ட சோழீஸ்வரர் கோயில்</nowiki>

Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a Hindu temples complex dedicated to Shiva in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Ariyalur district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Completed in 1035 CE by Rajendra Chola I as a part of his new capital, this Chola dynasty era temple is similar in design, and has a similar name, as the older 11th century, Brihadeeswarar Temple about 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the southwest in Thanjavur. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is smaller yet more refined than the Thanjavur Temple. Both are among the largest temples in South India and examples of Dravidian style temples. The temple is also referred to in texts as Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, Gangaikondacholeeswaram Temple or Gagaikonda-solapuram Temple.

The main temple and subsidiary shrines have a square plan. Though the main temple is dedicated to Shiva, it reverentially includes other Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Durga, Surya, Harihara, Ardhanarishvara, and others. It opens to the east and its sanctum, as well as the mandapas, are aligned on an east-west axis. In addition to the main shrine, the temple complex has a number of smaller shrines, gopura, and other monuments, with some partially ruined or restored in later centuries. The temple is famed for its sculptures, artwork on its walls, inscriptions, the depiction of Nandi and the scale of its tower.

Except for this temple, the old city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram – once the capital of a powerful empire for over two centuries along with its other major Chola-era Hindu temples have been completely destroyed, leaving a desolate place. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple remains an active temple. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2004, along with the Brihadesvara Temple at Thanjavur and Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram. These are referred to collectively as the "Great Living Chola Temples".