[TheSpadgieDrive]

Originally Posted by Kashief

I haven’t travel beyond Madurai via road. So I can suggest below route option if you are visiting/going through Madurai.

1. Madurai - Thanjavur via Trichy through NH 785 and 38
2. Thanjavur - Pondy via Perambalur, Ulunthoorpettai, Viluppuram through NH 136 and NH 38. Shortest route is NH 36 but the road is under construction and it’s worth taking extra 30 kms to avoid this route.
3. Pondy - Mahabalipuram you can take East Coast Road.

This a very helpful! Thank you!

[Arun_S]

Originally Posted by TheSpadgieDrive

This is so well covered, I will be driving from Varkala to Tamil Nadu ( Rameshwarma - Dhanushkodi, Thanjuvar, Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram). It would be truly help if you can help me with the best route and the road conditions.
I have a polo 1.2 and will be driving alone!!


Regards,
TheSpadgieDrive

Please let me know are you keen to visit temples on the way from Tanjore to Pondicherry

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by Kashief

The translation of the city's name may be split into Gangai (Ganga) Konda (Obtained) Chola (Chola) Puram (City).

The word "Konda" has different meanings according to context. Here it means conquest. Rajendra Chola 1 assumed the title "Gangai konda Cholan" after he defeated the Pala dynasty and brought the water of Ganges in hundreds of huge vessels to anoint the Shiva temple he built in his new capital, and also to pour into the new lake he had created there. The new capital was named in honour of this feat. He went on an expedition to fetch water from the Ganges, through the kingdoms of Vengi (eastern chalukyas who were his feudatories), then Kalinga and finally the Palas. The legend says he stated the purpose of his visit and demanded passage through each kingdom. If they allowed him to pass, well and good. If anyone challenged, he waged war. The legend also says he made the defeated kings to symbolically carry a small pot of the Ganges water on their head till Gangai Konda Cholapuram.

The outer gopurams in the perimeter wall are missing because they were symbolically demolished by the Pandyan king after he conquered the Chola kingdom some three centuries later. They did not touch the main temple itself because they too were Shaivaites and devotees.

Originally Posted by Kashief

The BIG Temple and its Nandi carved out of single rock

The Cholas did not have the custom of installing huge Nandi idols. It is a custom of the kingdoms of the present day Karnataka region. The original Chola Nandi was much smaller and made of granite, which was partly damaged (called "binnam" technically and not worthy of worship) during the invasion by Malik Kafur. Later on Kumara Kampanna, a prince of the Vijaya nagara empire defeated the short lived Madurai Sultanate and cleared the Chola and Pandya areas of Islamic rulers, and repaired all the grand temples after the places came under Vijaya nagar rule. Either he, or the Nayak governors installed by him to rule the areas, replaced the damaged nandi with new huge ones as per their custom. The Nandi at Gangai Konda Cholapuram also must have been installed by them. Even today we can see the damaged original Chola nandi in a corner of the circuambulatory area in Tanjore big temple.

The three temples of Tanjore, Gangai Konda Cholapuram and Darasuram near Kumbakonam are Unesco heritage sites and classified as "living Chola temples" which means they are continuosly in worship by devotees from the time of construction, and not just historic monuments.

[Kashief]

Originally Posted by Gansan

The word "Konda" has different meanings according to context. Here it means conquest. Rajendra Chola 1 assumed the title "Gangai konda Cholan" after he defeated the Pala dynasty and brought the water of Ganges in hundreds of huge vessels to anoint the Shiva temple he built in his new capital, and also to pour into the new lake he had created there.

Thanks Ganesan, for the insights. The historical facts you have mentioned is really helpful. I have visited very few temples and like you said haven’t seen big nandi’s in TN temples.

Udayar novel by Balakumaran, which was suggested few posts earlier may help in understanding the construction of these temples. Would like to know your book recommendations as well.

[TheSpadgieDrive]

Originally Posted by Arun_S

Please let me know are you keen to visit temples on the way from Tanjore to Pondicherry

Well here is an update !! A few days ago I completed the trip from Varkala to Rameshwaram. The road gets better one you hit the Nagercoil bypass! After that the road is sublime till Rameshwaram!

Rameshwaram to Dhanushkodi - this was one of the loneliest drive I have taken in a long time ! Started the drive around 7 am and oh boy was it eerily exhilarating!!

Rameshwaram to Thanjavur - another amazing drive !! Once you reach Thanjavur, it’s slow and crowded but that’s the case everywhere.

Next stop Kumbakonam, Gangaikonda, Mahabalipuram , Pondicherry

[Kashief]

As we enter 3rd quarter of the year, fortunately there are public holidays falling along with weekends and 1st of Oct morning we planned for a road trip. As there was just 1 more holiday left and we don't want to travel farther. I recollected fellow BHPians suggestion in this thread on visiting Darasuram Airavatesvara temple built by Rajaraja II.

Destination was finalised in 5 mins but overnight stay decision took 2-3 hours. We initially searched stay near Kumbakonam and as it was long weekend couldn't find a good place. Then better half suggested for overnight stay in Trichy. Anyway I had a plan to return via Trichy for two reasons - 1. Myil mark sweets & 2. Dindugal Biryani - take away shop located just outside Trichy Railway junction and we found a decent place, packed our bags, started our journey by evening in Civic a.k.a Cherry and reached Trichy by 11:30pm.

Temple timings are 8-12pm and 4-8pm. We decided to visit during 2nd half of the day, so we wake up late and had a leisurely start after breakfast. We reached temple around 3pm and when we entered there was just couple of families, that's a Big difference from our previous Chola Temple visits Gangai Konda Cholapuram and Thanjau Peruvudaiyar. Even though its October, temperature was on higher side competing with April/May summer season and the plan was Adhoc, we forget to carry socks for kid. Good thing is that it was almost like a Private visit and we admired the beauty of 12th Century Airavatesvara Temple peacefully.

1. Temple History by Archaeological Survey of India.



2. Actual Entrance when temple was constructed.





3. Architectural Marvel withstanding from CE 1173.















4. Pillar carvings and its details.





5. Rajagambhiran - tirumandapam conceived as a chariot with wheels.





6. Parting shot.





Thanks!

[poised2drive]

Magnificent structure and great pictures.

Must have been a peaceful and joyful temple-drive.

The Brihadeeshwara Temple and Gangaikondacholapuram have always been in my "Witnessing the Glory of the Past" List due to my love for history and I shall add Airavatheeswara Temple to that list

Glad to see even these "underappreciated places " being maintained well.

Coincidentally, we drove to another of such "underappreciated places " - Badami.

The Airavateshwara Temple houses Victory inscription of Rajadhiraja Chola I over the rulers of Kalyani Chalukyas- who claimed descent from Badami Chalukyas ! And as we see the architecture, the connection is so obvious- in fact, the later Chola temples are heavily influenced by the Chalukyan Architecture.

But the biggest difference is the sheer scale of the temples.

While Badami Chalukyas laid the foundation of the Indian Temple Architecture and the Hoyasala perfected the detailed and ornate carvings- it is the Cholas who took the Indian Temple architecture to its zenith with its Humongous structures and beautiful carvings.


If you're interested, you can read my travelogue -
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...ttlements.html (Through the Age of the Imperial Karnataka - From Magnificent Capitals to Begrimed Settlements)

[Arun_S]

Originally Posted by poised2drive

Magnificent structure and great pictures.

Must have been a peaceful and joyful temple-drive.

The Brihadeeshwara Temple and Gangaikondacholapuram have always been in my "Witnessing the Glory of the Past" List due to my love for history and I shall add Airavatheeswara Temple to that list

Glad to see even these "underappreciated places " being maintained well.

It is my personal opinion, Sculptures and Carvings in Darasuram are much better than the other 2. Other 2 are big, but this one comparatively small but the art works makes up for it.