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Brihadisvara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located on the south bank of the Cauvery river in the town of Thanjavur in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Built in the Chola architectural style by Chola emperor Rajaraja I between 1003 and 1010 CE, it is one of the largest Hindu temples , and is also called Dakshina Meru (Meru of the South). The temple is one of three Great Living Chola Temples designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This photograph shows the Brihadisvara temple during the festival of Maha Shivaratri, around which an annual dance festival is held at the temple, with artists performing major classical Indian dances there.Photograph credit: Rainer Halama; edited by UnpetitproleX