The stone building of the cholisvaram gangaiconds, the Shiva Temple, more known as the Brihadisvara Temple, dominates the Cholapuram gangaikonda panorama, Nedescripted Village in Udayarpalayam Taluk from the Tamil Nadu district. It is difficult to believe that the place was the pulsating capital of the Imperial Chalas for about 250 years. The city, its temple and its massive lake called Chola Gangam remain the embodiment of the success of the Rajendra Chola I signal (Regnal Years 1012-1044 CE).
Rajendra Chola I is famous for its exploitation, but its military expedition on the gangetic plain about a thousand years ago remains one of the most famous in the history of Chola dynasty. The copper albums of Truvalllangada, Esalam and Quaranthai, several inscriptions and literary works celebrate his victory and the construction of the Brihadisvar Temple, one of the three great living chol temples since UNESCO.
Rajendra himself celebrated victory by taking over the title “Gangaikonda Cholan”. He also built the Cholapuram gangaicond, along with the Cholisvaram gangaikond – a jewel in his crown, which competes with Rajarajeswaram (also known as the Brihadisvar Temple) built by his father in Thanjavur – and Chola Gangam, he exposed like Jalasthambam, the disposal of Victory.
Gang
During an expedition on the gangetic plain of Rajendra Chola, several kings and chiefs defeated the ruler and ruler of Pala Mahipal from Bengal. According to the copper plates of Tiruvalingad, the kings were defeated to transfer the gangs of the gang to the gangaicond Cholapuram. The water was poured into Chola Gangam, now known as Ponneri. Rajendra Chola I also brought some beautiful statues of seaweed and kaling as war trophies.
But why did Rajendra Chola move his capital from Thanjavur? Many historians believe that one of the reasons could be that he wanted a larger well -planned city to suit his huge army and better serve his business interests. However, R. Nagasama, the first director of Archeology Tamil Nadu, has an interesting opinion. Rajendra Chola I says, he probably had a “sentimental attachment” to a place that inspired him to achieve phenomenal success, even though it was unheard of as a village when he came to the throne.
“Tanjavur has been Capital Chola since he was captured from the Muttaraiya vijayalaya Chieftans … Tanjavur has served Cholas’s interests … Yet, within a few years of building a big temple (Rajarajeswaram) and over a few years (Rajas), his son, with his son, with his son, with his son, with his son, with his son With his son, with his son, with his son, with his son, with his son, with his son, with his son, his son, his son, his son, his son, his son, his son, his son, his son, his son, his son, his son (Rajarajesware) and his son.
Gangaicond Cholapuram remained the capital from 1025 NL until the CHOLA dynasty to 1279 CE. “As the capital of Cholas from about 1025 NL for about 250 years, the city dominated the matters of the whole of South India, from Tungabhadra in the north to Ceylon in the south,” says Nagasamy. It was the second largest and important city in the 11th to 12th centuries and the center of political, commercial and cultural activities such as Madurai in Pandyanad and Karur in Cheraranad, says Natana Kasinathan, another former director of the archaeological department. However, there is no inscription Rajendry Chola I in the Cholapuram gangaic temple, the magnificent Chola Art and Architecture Gallery. It is from the inscription of his son Rajendra, known that his father had built a temple. Details about the palace and other parts of the city are located in Rajendry’s epigraphic successions, Kasinathan says in his book The Metropolis of Medieval Cholas. The inscription Rajendry, the third son of Rajendra, refers to the palace in the Cholapuram gangaic gangaram as Chola-Keilan Thirumaaligai, apparently named after one of the titles of Rajendra I.
A busy city once
Gangaicond Cholapuram was a busy city with fortress, palaces and well -planned streets. “In the inscription of 49.
The city is also celebrated in Tamil’s literature. The sophisticated description of the citadel comes from Muvar Ula from Ottakuttar. Rajaraja Cholan Ula presents a description of almost all important places in the city. The city is referred to as a gangapuri in Kalingattruprarani, composed of Jayankondar.
Although attempts to dig and demonstrate the past glory of the city have recently appeared, the wealth of Cholapuram gangaiconds seems to have come a full circle. “This capital of the most powerful empire in Asia is suddenly desolate, it will only survive the temple. For those who know about the brilliant history of the Chola empire, it is a tragedy,” writes Nagasamy. As he explains, the Pandy, who ended the Chola empire in the 13th century, revealed their defeats: “They should demolish the city to the ground.” Since the sacred gang water has been brought to this city, a thousand years have passed, and it has been remembered as a suitable honor by the Emperor who founded the city, says R. Komagan, chairman of Cholapuram Gangaram Development Council Trust.
Published – 18 July 2025 09:00
