The UNESCO certified World Heritage Monument, Airavatesvara Temple is situated at
Darasuram, about 30 km from
Thanjavur in
Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity here is
Lord Shiva, known popularly as ‘Airavateshwara’. Shiva was worshipped at this temple by ‘
Airavata’, the white elephant of
Lord Indra and hence the name.
Built during the 12th century, in the late Chola period and was completed by Pandya rulers.
The main structure is an elongated rectangle rising into a pyramidal tower at the western end. It is surrounded by many other buildings, all within the same enclosure and has Dravidian style. The pillars are typical and are garnished with scalloped capitals and bases and brackets with a Cyma Recta curve over the capital. The veranda, in the form of a wheeled chariot drawn by elephants, is worth a visit.
