Raja Raja Chola

One of the great kings of southern India during the medieval period was Raja Raja Chola. During his 30-year reign he extended and consolidated an empire that spanned the seas. In fact, his reign witnessed the beginning of Chola maritime power with interests in Lanka and Sri Vijaya, which comprises modern Java, Sumatra and a few other islands.

Under his patronage, Chola bronze sculpture and Chola architecture too were at their best. The grand Raja Rajeswari temple in Tanjavur, built to commermorate his coronation, besides other smaller temples of great beauty, was the creation of his times. Raja Raja Chola was a king who was peerless as a solider and a scholar.