Thanjavur

Thanjavur is the seat of the medieval Chola empire and home to the Brihadeeswarar Temple, whose vimana tower rises 66 metres and was completed around 1010 CE, making it one of the tallest temple towers constructed in ancient India. The temple complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an exemplar of imperial Chola architecture, built almost entirely from granite quarried and transported from a considerable distance. The city also preserves the Thanjavur Palace with its significant collection of Chola bronzes.