Page 17 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

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ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL SIGHTS

Architectural detail at Brihadishwara Temple, Thanjavur, India
Brihadishwara The white-marble Pyramid of Cestius, Rome

Temple Pyramid of

Cestius
NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION The temple is
in Thanjavur, in the Indian NEED TO KNOW
1",*45"/
state of Tamil Nadu %FMIJ /&1"-
LOCATION The Pyramid
DATE OF of Cestius is in Rome, Italy .JMBO 7FOJDF
CONSTRUCTION AD 1010 ,PMLBUB
*/%*" DATE OF
PYRAMID HEIGHT CONSTRUCTION 12 BC
217 ft (66 m) .VNCBJ #BZ PG *5"-:
"SBCJBO #FOHBM PYRAMID HEIGHT
DAYTIME 4FB 30.& "ESJBUJD
TEMPERATURES Jan: $IFOOBJ 89 ft (27 m) 4FB
#3*)"%*4)8"3" /BQMFT
84°F (29°C); Apr: 95°F (35°C); 5&.1-& DAYTIME
Jul: 97°F (36°C); Oct: 90°F (32°C) 43* -"/," TEMPERATURES 5ZSSIFOJBO
Jan: 52°F (11°C); Apr: 66°F 4FB
(19°C); Jul: 86°F (30°C); *POJBO
4FB
Oct: 72°F (22°C)
This magnificent temple, known colloquially as
the “Big Temple,” represents the architectural
pinnacle of the Tamil Chola Empire, which once The impact of ancient Egyptian culture spread far
dominated Southern India. The huge complex, and wide. In the years after the Roman conquest
now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is dedicated of Egypt in 30 BC, scores of administrators and
to the Hindu god Shiva, and is decorated with soldiers moved to the North African country,
ABOVE The Bent Pyramid of Dahshur, Egypt, with its uneven side statues and images representing the many where they developed a taste for all things
elements of Hindu cosmology. The pyramidal pharaonic. The Roman magistrate Caius Cestius
took time to hone, though, since the nearby Bent temple at the building’s heart stands 13 stories was so impressed by the pyramids that he
Pyramid displays a noticeable – and unexplained high, and is gloriously decorated with carvings of decided to be buried in one. His handsome tomb
– change in angle halfway up one side. It also the gods. The temple’s inner sanctum contains a was faced in bright white marble, and forms part
strangely has two separate entrances. Snefru’s son huge stone, which worshipers walk around as of Rome’s city walls. However, Cestius proved less
Cheops, inspired by his father’s architectural efforts part of their dedication to Shiva. This is one of the immortal than the pharaohs, and by the Middle
at Dahshur, went on to build the Great Pyramid of largest temples in India, and at its height over 600 Ages locals believed the pyramid was the tomb
Giza, which was completed in around 2560 BC. attendants would have served its needs. of Remus, one of Rome’s legendary founders.

Practical Information Practical Information Practical Information
Getting There Saqqara and Dahshur are respectively 16 miles (25 km) Getting There Thanjavur is a 9-hour bus or train ride south of Getting There The pyramid is in south-central Rome, a stone’s throw
and 22 miles (35 km) south of Cairo. This accessible location makes the Chennai (Madras). Brihadishwara Temple is only a short walk from from the Porta San Paolo train station and the appropriately named
pyramid sites ideal for a day trip from the city. the train station in Thanjavur. Piramide metro station.
When to Go The best time to visit Egypt is from October through to April, When to Go Aim to visit between November and March, so that you When to Go Any time of year. The interior of the pyramid is open on
when the weather is at its coolest. avoid the hot summer and monsoon season. alternate Saturdays.
Website www.egypt.travel Website www.kumbakonam.info Website www.romaturismo.it

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