Rajendra's Monument of VICTORY
GANGAIKONDACHOLEESWARAM : The name seems actually longer than the little town end to end . The Second of the GREAT LIVING CHOLA TEMPLES celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . And justly so . What Rajendra-I achieved , first as a co-ruler with his father Rajaraja and later as Emperor, is truly unparalleled in history of South India , as glorious as the best in India and as note worthy as any in the world of historic times . It is just unfortunate that not much press was given to him in our country's history books , either due to poor initiative by southern historians or the preoccupation of pan Indian writers with Empires only north of The Vindhya Mountains. It is only now that there has been a rise , with a vengeance, in outpouring of pride and love for the Imperial Cholas , their achievements, their arts and Culture. We know from documented evidence , that the great king Raja Raja Cholan was not quite in his prime when he finally inherited the Chola empire from his uncle