Empire of the Cholas – Siddharth N. Vijayaraghavan

South India. 11th Century. In the middle of an undulating piece of land, a colossal structure emerges. It unites a land, creates harmony among a diverse population, and even brings together star-crossed lovers. This Big Temple breaks through the upper layers of the atmosphere in Thanjavur, transfixing the Chola Empire and its people.

Empire of the Cholas narrates the grand legend of the construction of the magnificent Brihadisvara Temple (the Big Temple) in Thanjavur and the peak of Chola power. Against the backdrop of this architectural marvel, a sweeping human drama unfolds: an ambitious man who comes adrift on a piece of wood, a legendary Emperor who comes into his own true greatness, and the fiercely independent, strong women of the royal court and beyond who assert their authority over the empire. Together, they must navigate the construction of this timeless monument while facing a deadly threat from a renegade foreign nation determined to bring their empire down.

Weaving together historical facts with rich fiction, Siddharth N. Vijayaraghavan creates a spectacular tapestry of medieval South India that promises to captivate and enthrall every lover of historical fiction.