Photos

Chidambaram has been the northern frontier of the ancient Chola kingdom, the successive capitals of which were Uriyur on the Kaveri, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur.

The gopurams (pagodas) at Chidambaram are the oldest in the south of India, and portions of them are gems of art. The principal temple is sacred to Shiva, and is said to have been rebuilt or enlarged by a leper emperor, who came south on a pilgrimage and was cured by bathing in the temple tank.

It contains a "Hall of a Thousand Pillars", one of numerous such halls in India. The exact number of pillars in this case is 999; each is a block of solid granite, and the roof of the principal temple is of GOLD-gilt.