At Gangakondacholapuram, 35km north of Kumbakonam, you’ll find a Shiva temple that’s only slightly smaller than Thanjavur’s Brihadishwara Temple; many believe the quality of the sculpture here is superior to its sister structure. While that’s a subjective opinion, the temple, built by Rajendrea I (son of Rajaraja I, builder of Brihadishwara) does represent a latter, somewhat more developed phase of Chola art. Note the 49m-tall vimana (tower) that tops the temple; its elegant up-sloping curves stand in stark contrast to the Brihadishwara’s angular lines, and as a result the Gangakondacholapuram is often described as the feminine counterpart to the Thanjavur edifice.
