Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, Tamil Nadu May 27, 2024

Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, Tamil Nadu

Within the Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu, tucked away amidst the tranquil landscapes of Darasuram, Kumbakonam, is a hidden gem of Dravidian architecture—the Airavatesvara Temple. This Hindu sanctuary, constructed under the patronage of Chola Emperor Rajaraja II during the 12th century CE, holds the esteemed status of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This sacred site pays homage to the traditions of Shaktism and Vaishnavism, along with Shaivism.

© Narayan Kumar Photography/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Stretching to the sky
Nothing says ‘San Francisco’ quite like...
May 27, 2025Mona Vale rockpool, Sydney, Australia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Gateway to Iberia
A day for cousins of every stripe
Dec 8, 2024Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
‘Only one Earth’
May 11, 2025Happy Mothers Day!
The ancient ruins of Nalanda
Jul 22, 2025Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
Babbling on and on
Nov 18, 2024Porthcawl lighthouse, Wales, United Kingdom
Jun 2, 2025Telangana Day
See-through cephalopod
Mar 19, 2025A black heron canopy hunting in Botswana
Behold the architectural marvel
Apr 11, 2025Tulips, Netherlands
Nov 14, 2024Manarola, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy
Twinkle twinkle, little bugs
Mar 7, 2026Humpback whales, Monterey Bay, California, United States
Jun 1, 2025World Reef Awareness Day
Apr 3, 2024Munnar, Kerala
Desert daggers?
Jun 24, 2024Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
May 19, 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
Widespread and long-eared
Isn’t this view mesmerizing?
Feb 17, 2026Chinese New Year
Aug 2, 2024Virgin Islands National Park, Saint John, United States
Oct 7, 2024The Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, Germany
Sep 9, 2023Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
103 years of Zion
Nov 25, 2024Maasai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya