Exploring the remains of the ancient Chola Dynasty

In the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the only structure left from the glorious Gangaikondacholapuram is a temple among the rice fields. But for a time, this temple was the center of medieval Southeast Asia and the capital of one of the world's oldest and longest-ruling dynasties.

The Jura dynasty was one of the three most powerful Tamil kingdoms of medieval southern India. At the height of their empire, the Jura kings invested in art, literature, education and architecture. They ambitiously built a large number of stone temples decorated with elaborate sculptures and fine paintings to serve as cultural and social centers. They also designed artificial lakes to mitigate droughts and provide safe drinking water.

The Brihadisvara Temple, located in Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India, is a revered religious site for Hindus, built by King Rajaraja Chola in 1010 AD. The temple has an impressive stone pyramidal spire nearly 66 meters high. The temple is also considered one of the greatest architectural wonders of India.

Kankekunda Cholapuram, which means "city of Jura that conquered the Ganges", was the capital of the Jura dynasty, but nothing remains of this capital. The only visible legacy is the temple of Kankai Kandal Churiswaram and the 4.8 km long Cholagangan Lake (now known as Pongneri Lake).

Although very little remains of the Jhulo dynasty capital, visitors can still learn about the dynasty throughout Tamil Nadu. Several destinations highlight the Jhulo dynasty's influence on bronze casting, architecture and music.

For travelers who want to blaze their own trail, travel an hour southwest from the city of Konkakonda Cholapuram to the remote village of Swamimalai, where the 1,000-year-old Jura Bronze Foundry offers a glimpse into the process of making portable bronze idols using the lost wax method, a technique perfected and popularized by the Jura people.

Kudavayil Balasubramanian is the former director of the Saraswati Mahal Library. This is one of the oldest libraries in Asia and is located in the Maratha Palace in Tanjavur. He adds that a large number of bronze and stone juro sculptures from the 9th to 13th centuries can be found in the palace's art galleries.

From exquisite frescoes and finely carved granite sculptures depicting Indian epics to soaring towers and spires, some of which are still the tallest in India, these temples, built in the 11th and 12th centuries and collectively known as the "Great Living Jura Temples," offer a unique perspective on the development of Jura art and architecture through the centuries.

The magnificent Brihadisvara Temple in Tanjavur, the Airavatesvara Temple in Dharasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram in Kankeikondacholapuram, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, are still active places of worship with the same rituals as they were over a thousand years ago. The rituals are still the same as they were a thousand years ago.

From the Brihadisvara temple in Tanjavur, visitors can visit the workshop where the Saraswati Vina, the national instrument of India, is made. Named after the Hindu goddess of learning, art and wisdom, this seven-stringed lyre is a descendant of the ancient yazi, a harp-like stringed instrument created during the Jura dynasty.