Thanjavur - Part 1

Brihadeshwara Temple

This is a large temple in Thanjavur made from carved granite. It's quite a structure.

The third (and final) gate that leads to the inner-most temple courtyard.

The main temple for Shiva.

The top of Shiva's temple is carved from a single huge piece of granite. Legend has it that it was put in place via a 6 km long ramp to get to it's base over 60 km above the ground.

A close-up view of the Nandi Bulls at one corner of the top square part of the tower.

This huge (2 m tall) Nandi Bull faces the entrance to Shiva's sanctum.

Near the bottom of Shiva's tower is one depiction of the Buddha sitting under a tree.

The temple neem tree.

One of the murals that line the walls of the perimeter corridor.

Yours truly in front of the entrance to Shiva's sanctum.