Place to visit
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, India: what it is and when to go
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is an 11th century Chola Hindu temple, UNESCO world heritage site (Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple) in India (Kumbakonam). Interests: Nature and Temples. The best time to visit is October to March. In June there are 12 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 21. It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in India: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- An 11th century Chola Hindu temple, UNESCO world heritage site · Nature, Temples
- Local name
- Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple
- Where
- India
- Best time
- October to March.
- Nearest airport
- MAA Chennai, 213 km as the crow flies
- Coordinates
- 11.2063, 79.44878
What it is and where
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is an 11th century Chola Hindu temple, UNESCO world heritage site (Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple) in India (Kumbakonam). It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in India: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.
It is in Kumbakonam, where this site lists 9 more places to see, 26 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are 11.2063, 79.44878; the nearest main airport is Chennai International Airport (MAA, Chennai), 213 km as the crow flies. How to get around India (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
It is one of the Nature and Temples places in India. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.
When to go
The best time to visit Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is October to March.
- JanBest time11:25
- FebBest time11:39
- MarBest time11:56
- AprPossible12:15
- MayBetter not12:31
- JunBetter not12:39
- JulBetter not12:36
- AugBetter not12:22
- SepPossible12:04
- OctBest time11:45
- NovBest time11:28
- DecBest time11:21
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 12 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 21. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.
| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | October to March | April and September |
| Temples | October to March | April and September |
It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and Kokai puts it in the right month for you.
When to go to India in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to India
To enter India there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport valid for six months, with two blank pages”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the India checklist. Currency: Indian rupee (INR), a closed currency; plugs: Type C, D and M · 230 V · 50 Hz (you need an adapter, and power cuts are normal); emergencies: 112 for everything · 100 police · 102 ambulance.
In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- Mahalingeswarar Temple, ThiruvidaimarudurTemple in India24 km
- Kampaheswarar Temple, ThirubuvanamShiva temple in Tamil Nadu, India24 km
- Tirunageswaram Naganathar TempleTemple in India27 km
- Oppiliappan TempleTemple in India27 km
- Great Living Chola Temples10th to 12th centuries shaivism Hindu temples, UNESCO World Heritage sites situated in India29 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the India guide.
More in India: Nature
- Kangchenjunga: third highest mountain in the world, in Nepal and India
- Kaziranga National Park: national park in the state of Assam, India
- Nalanda mahavihara: ancient Hindu-Buddhist monastery in present-day Bihar, India
- Nanda Devi: second highest mountain in India
- Sundarbans National Park: National Park, Tiger Reserve, and Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal, India
- Chitwan National Park: national park of Nepal
Every India place under Nature, each with its season, is on its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram?
It is an 11th century Chola Hindu temple, UNESCO world heritage site (Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in the local language) in India. It has articles in 14 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in India: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.
When is the best time to visit Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram?
October to March. In June there are 12 h 39 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 21.
How do you get to Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram?
The nearest main airport is Chennai International Airport (MAA), 213 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around India is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the India map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.
What else is around here?
Nearby you have Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur, Kampaheswarar Temple, Thirubuvanam, Tirunageswaram Naganathar Temple. The rest is in the India guide.
Keep reading
- Kumbakonam9 places to see in and around Kumbakonam, India: Great Living Chola Temples, Airavatesvara Temple, Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Best time: October to Ma
- Nature561 places for nature in India, from Kangchenjunga to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: October to March. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- IndiaBefore travelling to India: 10 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. You need a visa, applied for online on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.…
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. More about Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram on Wikipedia. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.