A Chola emperor built a granite temple tower in 1010 that still rises above Thanjavur

world cultures & travelWikipedia1003–1010 CE · Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India

A Chola emperor built a granite temple tower in 1010 that still rises above Thanjavur

the gist

The Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, was built by the Chola emperor Rajaraja I between 1003 and 1010 CE, and it is one of the largest Hindu temples in India. It stands on the south bank of the Cauvery river and is dedicated to Shiva. Its vimana, the tower above the inner shrine, is built of granite and is among the tallest in South India. The complex includes one of the largest Shiva lingas in the country and a massive colonnaded corridor. The temple is also known for its sculpture, and it commissioned a bronze Nataraja, Shiva as lord of dance. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Great Living Chola Temples.

how it works

Granite blocks were stacked to build the tall vimana above the sanctum, and the tower narrows toward the top so the weight is distributed. The temple is built around a moat with colonnaded corridors, so the whole complex directs visitors toward the central shrine.

so what

The temple shows the scale of the Chola empire, which was able to quarry, transport and carve granite on this scale a thousand years ago. It is still a working temple and one of the most visited sites in Tamil Nadu.

fun fact

The temple's bronze Nataraja was commissioned there in the 11th century, and it is famous for its sculpture.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗