Great Temple at Thanjavur: One Thousand Years 1010-2010

DETAILS : 

• Author : Michell George 
  
• Publisher : The Marg Foundation
  
• Language : English
  
• ISBN-13 : 9789380581019
  
• ISBN-10 : 9380581017
  
• Hardcover : 188 Pages
  
• Weight : 1400 g 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Great Temple at Thanjavur: One Thousand Years 1010–2010 is a definitive architectural and historical tribute to the Brihadisvara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Published to commemorate the millennium of the temple's completion, the book explores the genius of the Chola Emperor Raja Raja I, who commissioned this "Big Temple."

George Michell provides a comprehensive analysis of the temple’s massive granite structure, its towering Vimana (temple tower), and the intricate iconography of its carvings. The book goes beyond mere architecture, detailing the temple’s role as a center for Chola administration, bronze casting, dance, and music. Enhanced with stunning photography and architectural plans, it documents how the temple has survived a thousand years of history, remaining a living monument of Tamil identity and Hindu devotion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

George Michell is a world-renowned architectural historian and an authority on South Asian architecture. Trained as an architect in Melbourne and having earned a PhD in Indian Archaeology from the University of London, he has dedicated his life to documenting the monuments of the Indian subcontinent.

Michell is particularly famous for his extensive research and preservation efforts at Hampi (Vijayanagara) and his numerous publications on Islamic, Hindu, and Jain architecture. His work is celebrated for its precision, blending technical architectural drafting with a deep understanding of the cultural and religious contexts that shaped India's built heritage. He is a key figure in making Indian temple architecture accessible and appreciated by a global audience.