Shadow of the Vimana of this 1000-year-old temple in Tamil Nadu disappears at noon!

The base of the Vimana of the Brihadeshwara Temple in Tamil Nadu is bigger than its pinnacle.

Pic courtesy: Thinkstock image.

Mumbai: The Thanjavur Peruvudaiyar Kovil or the Brihadeshwara Temple of Tanjore dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Dravidian style temple built by Chola ruler Raja Raja I is one of the most magnificent architectural geniuses on the surface of earth.

The temple tower is believed to be the tallest in the world and the temple complex consists of other beautiful structures that glorify the incredible craftsmanship of the architects of that era.

Besides the huge Shiva Linga, which is located in the sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Griha), the huge Nandi draws crowds from world over. And interestingly, the temple tower or the Gopuram or the Vimana is constructed in such a manner that its shadow disappears at noon.

This happens because the base of the Vimana is bigger than its pinnacle. Hence at noon, the shadow of the temple tower gets merged on itself and not on the ground.

Kudos to the architects of the era for building something as beautiful as the Brihadeshwara Temple—a heritage structure that dates back to ancient India.