Chola Architecture (c. 850-1279 A.D.):
Chola Art and architecture evolved from Pallava traditions, but the Cholas developed a distinct style with significant advancements in temple architecture. They built hundreds of temples, ranging from modest early examples to massive later structures with towering vimanas and gopurams. The temple of Koranganatha at Srinivasanallur, built during the reign of Aditya I (871-907 A.D.), is one of the earliest examples of Chola architecture.
Chola architecture reached its peak at Thanjavur, their capital. The Brihadeeswara Temple, built around 1000 A.D. by Rajaraja I, is a masterpiece of Tamil architecture. Percy Brown described it as “apparently the largest, highest, and most ambitious production of its kind hitherto undertaken by Indian builders, it is a landmark in the evolution of building art in southern India.” The main structure of the temple is 55 meters long, with a 66-meter (216-foot) tall pyramidal Vimana.
The temples at Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Sri Rangam, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Darasuram, and Tribhuvanam exemplify the architectural style that characterised South India between the 11th and 13th centuries. The Chola style also influenced the architecture of Hindu temples in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Southeast Asian kingdoms like Srivijaya (Sumatra) and Champa (Vietnam).