Postcard from Thanjavur: Brihadisvara Temple - in pictures
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India's Brihadisvara Temple has a grand entrance that is adorned with life-size sculptures. All photos: Taniya Dutta / The National -
This elephant is carved out of granite stone -
A gigantic statue of nandi, the sacred bull, which is about 13ft high and 16ft wide, was sculpted out of a single rock -
A visitor takes a picture of the temple, an architectural marvel -
Visitors admire the Chola era bronze of Nataraja, the dancing form of Hindu deity Lord Shiva -
The statues, dating back to between the 7th and 14th century, are an exquisite mix of craftsmanship and intricate details -
A bronze statue of Parvati, the consort of Hindu deity Lord Shiva, from the 13th century -
The temple complex has 64 inscriptions in Tamil, the world’s oldest language -
The temple is adorned with frescos, inscriptions and sculptures -
The temple was completed in the year 1010 -
Tourists walk past granite walls with inscriptions -
The temple stands tall, at more than 64 metres -
Devotees visit an area dedicated to other deities within the complex -
The Brihadisvara Temple is only among a few remaining structures from the Chola Dynasty
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