The Brihadeeswara temple, one of the finest Dravidian architectural marvels in Tamil Nadu, is equally or more splendid during night time. As the soft veil of darkness falls over the structure, it is a fascinating sight.

Popularly known as Peruvudiayaar Temple, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Peruvudiayaar or Brihadeeswar. It is believed that the temple took almost twelve years to complete.

The central temple stands within a fort, along with a moat. The central attraction of the temple is the fourteen storied Vimana (the small pyramidal tower consisting of several progressively smaller stories, which is typical of the south Indian temple architecture) which is 216 feet high. The main sanctum of the temple is a Mahalingam (embodiment of Lord Shiva), which is 23 feet in circumference and 9 feet high.