File:11th century Brihadesvara temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu.jpg

English: Location of this monument:

Object location	11° 12′ 22.7″ N, 79° 26′ 54.41″ E	View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap	11.206306; 79.448447

Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Ariyalur district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Completed in 1035 AD by Rajendra Chola I as a part of his new capital, this Chola dynasty era temple is similar in design, and has a similar name, as the older 11th century, Brihadeeswarar Temple about 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the southwest in Thanjavur. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is smaller yet more refined than the Thanjavur Temple. Both are among the largest temples in South India and examples of Dravidian style temples. The temple is also referred to in texts as Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, Gangaikondacholeeswaram Temple or Gagaikonda-solapuram Temple.

The main temple has a square plan (above). Though dedicated to Shiva, it reverentially displays other Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Durga, Surya, Harihara, Ardhanarishvara, and others. It opens to the east and its sanctum, as well as the mandapas, are aligned on an east-west axis. In addition to the main shrine, the temple complex has a number of smaller shrines, gopura, and other monuments, with some partially ruined or restored in later centuries. The temple is famed for its sculptures, artwork on its walls, inscriptions, the depiction of Nandi and the scale of its tower.

Except for this temple, the old city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram – once the capital of a powerful empire for over two centuries along with its other major Chola-era Hindu temples have been completely destroyed, leaving a desolate place. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple remains an active temple. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2004, along with the Brihadesvara Temple at Thanjavur and Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram. These are referred to collectively as the Great Living Chola Temples.