page_title: Tourism in Tamil Nadu
section_title: The Chola Temples
hierarchical_section_title: Tourism in Tamil Nadu / UNESCO World Heritage Sites / The Chola Temples
caption_attribution_description: Airavateshwarar temple at Darasuram
context_page_description: Tamil Nadu is a state in the south-eastern part of the Indian Peninsula. Tamil Nadu is previously a part of the United Madras Province, which was later partitioned based on languages. Tamil Nadu has more than 4,000 years of continuous cultural history. Tamil Nadu has some of the most remarkable temple architecture in the country, and a living tradition of music, dance, folk arts and fine arts. Tamil Nadu is well renowned for its temple towns and heritage sites, hill stations, waterfalls, national parks, local cuisine and the natural environment and wildlife. The state has the largest tourism industry in India with an annual growth rate of 16%. In 2015, the number of domestic arrivals was at 333.5 million making the state the most popular tourist destination in the country, and foreign arrivals numbered 4.68 million, the highest in the country, making it the most popular state for tourism in the country.
context_section_description: The Great Living Chola Temples constructed by the king Raja Raja Chola and his son Rajendra are  part of the Cultural heritage site which includes the three great temples of 11th and 12th century namely, the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.
  Thanjavur – The home to the Chola Kingdom and the location of the Brihadisvara Temple built in the 11th century.
  Gangaikonda Cholapuram – The capital of the Chola kingdom for 250 years.
  Darasuram – A small town close to Kumbakonam, the town has the prestigious Airavatesvara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva along with the Brihadeeswara Temple and the temple of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram are three of the most venerated and architectural legacies of the Chola empire.
caption: The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, an 11th-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
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