Great Temples of Tamil Nadu
Temple questions reward three facts: who built it, which deity, and the superlative attached, tallest tower, largest complex, longest corridor.
| Temple | Place | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Brihadisvara (Big Temple) | Thanjavur | Raja Raja Chola I (1010 CE); UNESCO; towering vimana |
| Gangaikondacholapuram | Ariyalur district | Rajendra Chola I, marking the Ganges expedition; UNESCO |
| Airavatesvara | Darasuram (Kumbakonam) | Raja Raja II; UNESCO; musical steps |
| Meenakshi Amman | Madurai | Nayak-era splendour; towering gopurams; Chithirai festival |
| Ranganathaswamy | Srirangam | Among the largest functioning temple complexes in the world |
| Ramanathaswamy | Rameswaram | Longest temple corridor tradition; Jyotirlinga and Char Dham site |
| Nataraja Temple | Chidambaram | Cosmic dance of Shiva; Natyanjali festival |
| Shore Temple | Mahabalipuram | Pallava structural temple by the sea; UNESCO |
| Ekambareswarar | Kancheepuram | Earth (Prithvi) lingam among the Pancha Bhoota shrines |
| Arunachaleswarar | Tiruvannamalai | Fire (Agni) shrine; Karthigai Deepam |
| Palani Murugan (Dhandayuthapani) | Palani | Hill shrine; GI-tagged Panchamirtham |
| Kumari Amman | Kanniyakumari | Shore temple at land's end |
Builder questions cluster on the Chola trio: Raja Raja I (Brihadisvara, Thanjavur), Rajendra I (Gangaikondacholapuram) and Raja Raja II (Airavatesvara, Darasuram).
Frequently asked questions
Who built the Thanjavur Big Temple?
Which temple marks Rajendra Chola's Ganges campaign?
Related lists
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu's UNESCO World Heritage list: the Great Living Chola Temples (three temples), Mahabalipuram monuments, and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.
Festivals of Tamil Nadu
Pongal's four days, Jallikattu, Chithirai festival, Karthigai Deepam, Mahamaham and Natyanjali, each festival with its place and timing.
Districts of Tamil Nadu
All 38 districts of Tamil Nadu in one list, with the newest districts and their carve-outs, the way TNPSC asks them.
Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu
Every Chief Minister of Madras State and Tamil Nadu since 1946, with tenures, the exact list TNPSC draws sequence questions from.
Compiled from official Tamil Nadu government sources and standard references. Time-sensitive counts carry an as-of note on the page. Sources: TNPSC official notifications. Figures are indicative and may change with each official notification. Data last reviewed: July 2026.
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