The famous Brihadeshwara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Chola period, is located in which city of Tamil Nadu?

Introduction / Context:
Brihadeshwara Temple, also called Rajarajeswaram, is one of the grandest temples built during the Chola dynasty and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an iconic landmark in South Indian art and architecture. This question checks whether you can correctly associate Brihadeshwara Temple with the city in Tamil Nadu where it stands.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The temple is named Brihadeshwara (or Brihadisvara) Temple. • It was built by the Chola king Rajaraja I and is famous for its towering vimana. • The options list several major temple cities of Tamil Nadu.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to match major temples with the cities they belong to. Brihadeshwara Temple is located in Thanjavur, which was a Chola capital and an important centre of art and learning. While Madurai is associated with the Meenakshi Temple, Kanchipuram with many ancient temples and Rameshwaram with the Ramanathaswamy Temple, the specific monumental Chola temple dedicated to Lord Shiva called Brihadeshwara stands in Thanjavur. Remembering this pairing helps you quickly pick the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Chola dynasty had its capital at Thanjavur for a long period. Step 2: Remember that Rajaraja I built the Brihadeshwara Temple, also known as the Big Temple, in Thanjavur as a symbol of Chola power and devotion. Step 3: Associate the unique tall vimana and extensive inscriptions of Brihadeshwara with the city of Thanjavur. Step 4: Compare the options. Madurai is famous for the Meenakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram for its many temples and Rameshwaram for the Ramanathaswamy Temple and long corridors. Step 5: Since Brihadeshwara Temple is specifically linked to Thanjavur, choose Thanjavur as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
World heritage lists and Tamil Nadu tourism materials clearly list Brihadeshwara Temple at Thanjavur as part of the Great Living Chola Temples group. Whenever the Big Temple is shown in photographs or documentaries, its location is identified as Thanjavur. There is no mention of it being in Madurai, Kanchipuram, Rameshwaram or Tiruchirappalli, which confirms that Thanjavur is the correct city.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Madurai: Known for the Meenakshi Amman Temple, not for Brihadeshwara. Kanchipuram: A temple city with many shrines, but Brihadeshwara is not among them. Rameshwaram: Famous for the Ramanathaswamy Temple and its long corridors, not for the Big Temple of the Cholas. Tiruchirappalli: Contains the Rockfort Temple and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at nearby Srirangam, but Brihadeshwara is not here.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse temple cities in Tamil Nadu because all of them are associated with magnificent temples and a rich religious heritage. Without a clear one to one mapping between specific temples and their cities, it becomes easy to mix up names. A helpful strategy is to learn at least one flagship temple for each major city, such as Brihadeshwara for Thanjavur and Meenakshi for Madurai, so that you can answer such matching questions confidently.

Final Answer:
The famous Brihadeshwara Temple is located in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.