The Chola kings used their wealth to encourage the arts and built innumerable temples and shrines to ornament their land. The monolithic granite block that tops the tower weighs 81.3 tonnes and was installed by mens of ramp that started at a village 6km away. Guarding the temple is an enormous figure of Nandi, the bull, carved out of monolithic block of black granite, 6m long. Within the temple and along its gateways and shrines are other superb examples of stone carving. Beautifully sculpted panels with mythological scenes like Parvathi's wedding decorate the walls.
Fine figures carved with skill decorate the outer structure.
Below these panels are marvellous Chola frescoes executed in the elegant Ajanta style that have been discoveredand uncovered only in recent times for murals of later period obscured them. Dotting the beautiful countryside around Thanjavur are other little temple towns. Guarding the temple is an enormous figure of Nandi, the bull, carved out of monolithic block of black granite, 6m long. Within the temple and along its gateways and shrines are other superb examples of stone carving. Beautifully sculpted panels with mythological scenes like Parvathi's wedding decorate the walls.