Nine reasons why the Brihadeeswara Temple in Tamil Nadu is one of the greatest structures ever built: The temple is built using the interlock method, where no cement, plaster, or adhesive was used between the stones. It has survived 1000 years and 6 earthquakes. The temple tower, at 216 feet, was likely the tallest in the world at the time. The other structures built using this method, such as Big Ben and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, are tilting with time. The Brihadeeswara Temple, which is far older, has zero degree inclination. 130,000 tons of granite were used to build the temple, which was transported by 3000 elephants from 60 km away. The temple was constructed without digging the earth. There was no foundation dug for the temple! The Kumbham at the top of the temple tower weighs 80 tons and is monolithic, carved from a single stone. Several theories exist as to how the 80-ton stone piece got atop the 200+ feet tower. Some suggest the use of levitation technology, but the more plausible explanation seems to be the use of elephants to pull the stone piece across a nearly 6 km long ramp. It is said that several underground passages exist below the temple, most of which were sealed off centuries ago. It is said that these underground passages were safety traps and exit points for the Cholas. Some sources put the count of these passages at 100. The temple is so remarkable that some people go to the extent of saying that it was built by aliens. There is nothing quite like the Brihadeeswara Temple, and there will never be something quite like it. Raja Raja Chola was a visionary. We must treasure this timeless marvel. #SanatanCivilization" From Facebook