Arithmetically correct temple with tallest tower

The Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, South India has a number of unique distinctions to its credit, making it notable & a `must-see' monument during your visit to South India. For starters it was completed in a record time of seven years beginning from 1004 C.E. Built during the Chola Period by Rajaraja I, the temple as per the wishes of the king, was totally constructed in granite though there was no granite within a distance of 100 kilometers from the temple site. Transporting the granite over long distances required logistics of the highest order. The tower built over the sanctum stands at a height of 216 feet & is till date the tallest spire in India. The topmost portion of the tower - also known as `kalasam' (capstone) was built out of a single rock & weighs 81 tonnes.

It is believed the huge stone was dragged using an inclined plane having a length of 6.44 kilometers. Since the temple was completed in a record time, it's believed nearly 50 tones of granite stone needed to be moved & placed every day. Carving & shaping the rock is yet another aspect needing consideration, since granite is quite hard to carve. There are musical pillars in the sanctum sanctorum that produce musical notes when tapped. From the artistic perspective, the exteriors of the temple have depiction of dancers showing 81 of the 108 synchronized movements (of the hands & feet) of the Bharat Natyam dance. Finally, the standard measures used in construction come from the ancient Vastu shastras which measures 1 3/8-inch and is used even today. Similar measurement principles are observed in the ancient structures of Indus valley Civilisation some 4000-6000 years ago. The Brihadeeswara Temple is an engineering marvel, difficult to replicate even today & worth a visit.