The Brihadeeswarar Temple, or the Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is among the largest temples of India. It is situated in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The temple is consecrated to Lord Shiva, who is enshrined in the form of a colossal Lingam. It was constructed during 1010 AD by the great Chola emperor, Rajaraja Chola I. This temple is among the three Great Living Chola Temples, while the others are Gangaikondacholeeswaram Temple and Airavatesvara Temple. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The big Nandi statue, which is the divine bull of Lord Shiva, is among the most popular attractions in the temple.

The statue stands at a height of 13 feet and a width of 16 feet and is constructed from a single rock. The temple is encircled by fortified walls with exquisite stone carvings. The central temple tower is 216 feet high, which is the tallest of its type in the world. The whole building is constructed of granite stones. The temple contains numerous paintings and inscriptions that detail the history of the Chola era. There is a special feature of the 80-ton stone at the top of the temple. It is incredible that the whole temple was constructed in 7 years only, indicating the strength and ability of the Chola kings.
The Temple is built with granite. The government trying to make it the tallest in India. The temple’s Architecture and its significance are the massive attractions of this temple. The Devotees visit this temple from October to March. The temple conducts daily poojas and Aarti to the deity of Lord Shiva.
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Brihadeeswarar Temple Timings
The Brihadeeswarar Temple opens daily at 6:00 AM. The darshan to the temple starts from 6:00 AM. You can get the darshan ticket offline in the temple office. The special darshan is included with the poojas.
Session | Timings |
---|---|
Morning | 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM |
Afternoon Break | 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM |
Evening | 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
The timings may vary on some special occasions and festivals.
Brihadeeswarar Temple Darshan Ticket Prices
Darshan Type | Timings | Ticket Price |
---|---|---|
Morning Darshan | 6:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Free |
Evening Darshan | 4:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Free |
Special Archana | During darshan hours | ₹5 – ₹250 (depending on the type of puja) |
Abhishekam | Specific timings | ₹500 – ₹1,500 (varies for different sevas) |

How To Book Darshan for Brihadeeswarar Temple
The Brihadeeswarar temple does not provide any online darshan booking for the devotees to their darshan tickets from the official website so the devotees need to reach the temple directly for booking their darshan tickets and the official website only provides Puja booking online services to the devotes and also the parking booking services so please follow the below guideline steps to book your darshan ticket of Brihadeeswarar temple offline.
- Visit the Temple Ticket Counter:
- Go to the temple ticket counter which is located at the entrance of the temple.
- applications form:
- Ask for the Darshan booking application form in the temple ticket counter.
- Select Darshan type:
- In the application form like special Darshan or VIP darshan according to the availability of types of darshans.
- Slot date and time:
- Select the darshan slot timing and date according to the availability of the tickets .
- Fill the required details
- Show the application form which is the required details like devotee name, age, gender and mobile number and email ID and also select the number of devotes.
- Submit a valid ID proof:
- Carry the a soft copy of an valid ID proof for the ID verification and the required details like any of the them like Aadhar card, pan card, driving message or voter card.
- Make payment:
- Then make payment through the available payment options in the temple ticket counter like net banking or UPI transaction or debit or credit card payments. And the advisable suggestion is that please carry cash into the temple.
- Get confirmation ticket:
- Then receive the confirmation of your ticket from the temple ticket counter and check the slot timing and date of your darshan
Brihadeeswarar Temple Pooja Timings and Ticket prices:
The temple conducts daily pooja to the deity of Lord Shiva. The pooja is the main offering to the Lord Shiva. PalabhiShekam means bathing the deity with milk. There are two types of poojas available one is ordinary and the other one is special pooja. The Brihadeeswarar Temple Pooja Timings and prices are listed below.
Pooja | Timing | Prices |
---|---|---|
Palabhishekam | 8:30 AM | ₹2,500 (Ordinary) / ₹5,000 (Special) |
Uchikalam Pooja | 12:00 PM | Free |
Sayarakshai Pooja | 6:00 PM | Free |
Arthajamam | 8:30 PM | Free |
Abhishekam to Divine Mother Brahan Nayaki | 8:30 AM | ₹1,500 (Ordinary) / ₹2,500 (Special) |
Abhishekam to Lord Vigneshwarar | 8:30 AM | ₹750 |
Abhishekam to Lord Subramanyar | 8:30 AM | ₹750 |
Abhishekam to Sri Varahi Amman | 8:30 AM | ₹1,250 |
Abhishekam to Sri Nandikeswarar (including Pradosham) | 8:30 AM | ₹6,500 |
Daily Poojas conducted in the temple:
- Kalasandhi: 6:00 AM – 6:30 AM
- Uchikalam: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Sayarakshai: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Irandam Kalam: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Arthajamam: 8:30 PM – 8:45 PM
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How To Reach To Brihadeeswarar Temple
- By Road:
- You reach the Thanjavur Bus Stand, the temple is 1 km from the bus stand.
- By Train:
- You reach the Thanjavur Junction Railway Station, the temple is 1.5 km from the railway station.
- By Air:
- The nearest Airport is Tiruchirapalli International Airport, the temple is 61 km from the airport.
Festivals and Timings at Brihadeeswarar Temple
The major festivals conducted in the Brihadeeswarar Temple are listed below. The timings may vary in the festival times.
Festival | Month | Duration | Special Timings |
---|---|---|---|
Chithirai Festival | April-May | 18 Days | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
Maha Shivaratri | February-March | 1 Day | All Night Vigil |
Navaratri | September-October | 9 Days | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
Aarudra Darshanam | December-January | 1 Day | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
Sathayavizha | October | 2 Days | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
Pradosham | Twice a Month | 1 Day | 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM |
Panchami Abhishekam | Every Panchami | 1 Day | 8:30 AM |
Asada Navarathiri | July-August | 12 Days | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
Astami Abhishekam | Every Astami | 1 Day | 8:30 AM |
Girivalam | Every Full Moon Day | 1 Day | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
Aadi Pooram | July-August | 1 Day | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
Rajarajan Festival | November-December | 1 Day | 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM |
Nearby Attractions to the Brihadeeswarar Temple
The nearby attractions to the temple are listed below
- Rajarajan Mani Mandapam
- Serfoji Sarasvati Mahal Library
- Thanjavur Royal Palace
- Swami Malai Temple
- Thiruvalanchuzhi Temple
- Bangaru Kamakshi Temple
- Brihadeeswarar Fort
- Thanjavur Art Gallery
- Kumbakonam
- Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Important Links
Brihadeeswarar Temple Official website.
How To Reach to the temple
The Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as the Big Temple, is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. Here are a few ways to reach the temple:
By Air
- Nearest Airport: Tiruchirapalli International Airport (TRZ), about 61 km away.
- From Airport: You can hire a taxi or take a bus to Thanjavur.
By Train
- Nearest Railway Station: Thanjavur Railway Station (TJ).
- From Station: The temple is about 1 km from the railway station, so you can take a taxi, auto-rickshaw, or even walk.
By Road
- Bus: Regular buses are available from major cities to Thanjavur.
- Car: If you’re driving, you can take NH38 and AH45 to reach Thanjavur.
Once you’re in Thanjavur, the temple is centrally located and easily accessible on foot or by local transport.
Brihadeeswarar Temple Contact details:
- Phone:
- +91-4362-274476
- +91-4362-223384
- Address:
- Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
- Official Website: Click Here
- Facebook Page: Brihadeeswarar Temple on Facebook
FAQs:
How much time is required to see Brihadeshwara temple?
minimum of 2-3 hours is required to visit the whole Brihadeshwara Temple.
Is there an entry fee for darshan?
The entry is free but the poojas are not free.
What is the dress code for Brihadeshwara temple?
There is no specific dress code but wear traditional dresses.
What is the Speciality of Brihadeshwara Temple?
The speciality in Brihadeshwara Temple was the statue of Nandi.