Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is located at Ariyalur District
in Tamil Nadu. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main sanctum
sanctorum at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple consists of huge Shivling. The height
of the Shivling is thirteen feet (3.90 meters). It is believed to be the
biggest in all the Shiva temples in South India. Shiva is worshipped here as
Gangaikondacholishwara.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple Timings
Morning Darshan Time
6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Evening Darshan Time
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
About the Temple
Mother Goddess Parvati is worshipped here as Brihanayaki and
her sanctum is located to the northern side of the main sanctum sanctorum.
There is a separate shrine to Chandesha.
Subsidiary shrines are dedicated to Surya.
There are beautiful figures in the niches of the sanctum. These figures are of dancing Ganesha, Ardhanarishwara, Harihara, Nataraja, Gangadhara, Lingodbhavamurti, Vishnu and his consorts, Kartikeya, Kalantaka Shiva, Mahishsuramardini, Brahma who is flanked by Savitri and Saraswati.
Some the rare beautiful sculptures in the temple are of
Chandeshanugrahamurti, Kamataka Lakshmi and Saraswati.
There is a beautifully carved monolithic navgraha on chariot
of the sun drawn by the seven horses.
There are also some magnificent bronze images of Muruga.
The main Vimana of the temple is 30 meters square with a
height of 54 meters and it has eight storeys.
A circular well guarded by a lion stands to the northeast of the vimana. It is called Simhakeni. The lion is believed to have been added in the 19th century.
A huge figure of nandi faces the main shrine.
A circular well guarded by a lion stands to the northeast of the vimana. It is called Simhakeni. The lion is believed to have been added in the 19th century.
A huge figure of nandi faces the main shrine.