Page 598 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

596  SOUTH INDIA

sculpture of a seated lion to
a well, believed to have been
filled with Ganges water
for daily rituals.
The small Archaeological
Museum, near the temple,
exhibits Chola artifacts from
neighbouring sites.

 Brihadishvara Temple
Open daily. Museum: Open daily.
q Kumbakonam
Thanjavur district. 74 km (46 miles) SW
of Chidambaram. * 140,100. £ @
n Thanjavur tourist office, (04362)
231 325. _ Nageshvara Temple
Festival (Apr/May), Maha maham
Festival (every 12 years).
Like Kanchipuram (see p586),
Kumbakonam is one of the
most sacred cities in Tamil Nadu.
Located on the southern bank
of the Kaveri river, this is an
ancient city, where, as legend
says, Shiva’s arrow shattered the
cosmic pot (kumbh) containing
Superb Nataraja sculpture at Gangaikondacholapuram the divine nectar of creation
(amrit). This myth has given
0 Gangaikon­ temple is shorter than the one Kumbakonam both its name
dacholapuram at Thanjavur. Adorning the and sanctity. Today, the city
lower walls, columns and niches represents the traditional
Tiruchirapalli district. 40 km (25 miles) are many remarkable sculptural cultural values of the Tamil
SW of Chidambaram. @ from friezes. One of the most out­ heartland. It is also the region’s
Chidambaram or Kumbakonam. standing is the panel depicting main commercial and craft
Grandly titled Gangaikon­ Shiva blessing Chandesha, a centre, famous for its textiles,
dacholapuram, “The City of pious devotee sculpted to jewellery, bronze casting and
the Chola who took the resemble Rajendra I himself. the superior quality of its
Ganges”, this now­modest The sculptures of the dikpalas locally grown betel leaves.
village was the capital of the (guardians of the eight It is believed that when the
powerful Chola dynasty directions), ekadasas (the divine nectar emerged from
(see pp50–51) during the reign 11 forms of Shiva), Saraswati, the pot, it filled the huge
of Rajendra I (r.1012–44). A great Kalyanasundara and Nataraja Mahamaham Tank. This is
military commander like his (see p570) are also splendid Kumbakonam’s sacred centre
father Rajaraja I, Rajendra I was examples of Chola art. Steps and the site of the great
the first Tamil ruler to venture near the small Durga shrine Mahamaham Festival, held
northwards. He built this city in the courtyard lead past a every 12 years (the last one
to commemorate his successful
campaign across the Ganges.
According to an inscription,
he then ordered the defeated
rulers to carry back pots of
sacred Ganges water on their
heads to fill the Chola­Ganga
tank, a victory memorial.
Except for the magnificent
Brihadishvara Temple, little
remains of his capital city.
Built as a replica of Than javur’s
Brihadishvara Temple (see
pp602–603), the towered
sanctum of this granite Shiva The 17th-century Adikumbheshvara Temple, Kumbakonam
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp702–703 and pp717–18

596-597_EW_India.indd 596 26/04/17 11:49 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm