A prime example of Indian architecture, the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur in southern India is completely constructed of granite. It was built between 1009 and 1010 for the Chola emperor Rajaraja. Frequently mentioned as a turning point in Indian architecture, one of its focal points is the foundation, which is made of a single slab of granite.
Of 22 temples standing in Khajuraho village, Chaunsath Yogini is the only granite temple. It is also the oldest of the group, built in 900. The small, circular temple sits in the Chatarpur mountains with an entrance facing east. Indians built Chaunsath Yogini for Kali, a Hindu goddess who is responsible for the transition into death.
Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple is a representation of monumental architecture in southern India. The temple is the anchor of Madurai, one of the oldest cities in India, predating Christianity. The city surrounds the temple, which is about the size of 12 football fields and holds smaller temples within its walls. Like Brihadisvara Temple, Meenakshi Sundareshwar rests on solid blocks of granite as its foundation.
