BRIHADEESWARAR
TEMPLE, TAMIL NADU
Dedicated to Shiva,
Brihadeeswarar Temple is one
of the largest temples in South
India and an excellent example
of Tamil architecture at its
best. Located 350 kilometers
southwest of Chennai, the
original portions of the temple
date to the 11th century. Its
main vimana tower, at 16
storeys is among the tallest in
South India, and is constructed
from granite, while the quality
of sculpture throughout the
grounds is second to none.
One of a trio of Chola temples
with UNESCO World Heritage
Site status, it’s easy to see why
Brihadeeswarar Temple is one
of the most popular stops in
Tamil Nadu.
NALANDA UNIVERSITY
One of India’s earliest teaching
institutions, it’s mind boggling
to realize that Nalanda
University dates back to the
5th century. At the time, highly
formalized Vedic training
attracted students from as far
as Korea, China and Tibet. To
this day, a series of Buddhist
monasteries and temples that
were in use for the better part
of 700 years continue to
unearth a wealth of
knowledge of this era through
sculptures, coinage, carvings
and seals. This alone is why
the university, 95 kilometers
outside of Patna in Bihar,
continues to attract Buddhist
visitors and the simply curious.SUN TEMPLE, KONARK
Situated along the Odisha
coast, the Sun Temple, Konark
remains a major pilgrimage
site for Hindus, who gather for
the Chandrabhaga Mela, which
normally takes place in
February. Dedicated to the
Hindu god Surya, the 13th-
century temple is famous for
its intricate stone carving,
artwork, iconography and
Hindu themes. Surya is
represented by an oversized
chariot led by seven horses
and, today, it’s that detail in
the stone carvings of chariot
wheels that remains
fascinating for visitors. The
reliefs here are so intricately
detailed that they are
described in terms normally
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Nalanda University.Sun Temple, Konark.