Rajarajeshwara Temple of Tanjore was built by the ruler of which dynasty?

The correct answer is Chola.

Key Points

• Rajarajeshwara Temple is also known as Brihadeeswarar Temple and is located in the city of Thanjavur (formerly known as Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu, India.
• The temple was built by the Chola dynasty ruler Rajaraja Chola I in the 11^th century AD.
• The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the best examples of Dravidian architecture in India.
• The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has a towering vimana (temple tower) that is one of the tallest in India.

Additional Information

• Pandya:
  • ​The Pandya dynasty ruled over parts of South India, including Tamil Nadu, in the 6^th-17^th centuries AD. 
  • Maravarman Sundara I established the groundwork for the Pandya empire in southern India around the beginning of the thirteenth century. 
  • The pinnacles of Pandya architecture are, in fact, the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai and the Aranganathar Temple in Srirangam. 
• Pallava:
  • ​The Pallava dynasty was an early medieval South Indian dynasty that ruled from the 3^rd-9^th centuries AD.
  • They were known for their patronage of the arts and architecture.
  • The Shore Temple and the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram are two of the best specimens of Pallava art and architecture.
• Chola:
  • ​The Chola dynasty was one of the most powerful South Indian dynasties that ruled from the 9^th-13^th centuries AD.
  • They were known for their military conquests, administrative skills, and patronage of the arts. 
  • The Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, the Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram, and the Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram are the three well-known temples that date back to the Chola era.
• Chera:
  • The Chera dynasty was an ancient dynasty that ruled over parts of South India, including present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu, from the 3^rd century BC to the 12^th century AD.
  • Kerala's Thiruvanchikulam Temple, which is devoted to Lord Shiva and has a distinctive architectural style, is situated in the Ernakulam district.