Q1. Which of the following Chola temples first used a massive monolithic shikhara (cupola) above the sanctum made of granite?
- (a) Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram
- (b) Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur
- (c) Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
- (d) Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
Answer & solution
Answer: (b) Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur
• Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram: A Pallava temple (8th century), not Chola; its shikhara is not a single monolithic granite piece.
• Meenakshi Temple, Madurai: A Madurai Nayak-era temple (17th century), not a Chola creation.
• Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal: A Chalukya temple (8th century), unrelated to the Chola dynasty.