The Chola Period marks a distinct and significant period in the art and architecture of India

Art and architecture in India reached its climax during Chola period. Chola style of temple
architecture was unique due to the emergence of new style called Dravidian style, which was
confined mostly to the South India. Chola rulers were wealthy enough to build message palaces with
spacious Garden and terraces the use to Mark their victory over other state by building temples that
is why number of temples are built during this period
Chola style of architecture
 This architecture developed under the chola regime
 temples surrounded by boundary walls
 High entrance gateway gopuram
 This follows panchayatn style for principal shine and four subsidiary shrines
 The stepped pyramid that rises up is called vimana
 Crowning form in octagon its similar to the kalash in nagara style but not spherical
 On the main temple the vimana on subsidiary shrine temple there is no vimana
 The assembly hall connected with garbgriha using the tunnel that tunnel is called antarala.
 The entrance of garbagriha scplucuure of Dwarpal, Mithun, and yakshas.
 Presence of water tank inside the temple enclosure was a unique style of Dravidian temple
architecture.
 e.g. Brahadeeswarar (Big temple) temple at Tanjore
Important features of chola art
A. Sculpture
 They depict socio religious ideas of the chola period.
 Spiritual calmness is depicted in sculptural representations of alwars
 The cholas made use of sculptures to decorate the walls, pillars and roofs
 Scenes from ramayanam mahabharatam, puranas and lives of the 63 nayanmars are sculptured in narrative panels on the walls of temples.e.g.nataraja broze
B. Protatit
 The best specimens of portraits are found on the walls of koranganatha temple and nageswarasamy temple.
 The portraits of cholamadevi and kulothunga-iii are there in kalahasti temple.
C. Paintings

 The art of paintings flourished, figures were painted with realism.
 Rajaraja-i and rajendra contributed more for the development of the art of painting during
the chola period.
D. Music
 The hymns of aiwars and nayanmars were sung in every temple.
 Nambiandar nambi and nathamuni contributed much for the development of music.
E. Dance
 Bharatha natyam and kathakali were two types of dances performed during the chola period
 There were two dance directors to coordinate these dancing girl
 Natarajar temple at chidamparam and sarangapani temple at kumbakonam have dancing
poses of lord nataraja.
 Dance dramas were also performed on stages at festival times.
F. Drama
 Rajarajeswara natakam and rajarajavijayam were the dramas enacted during festival times.
drama actors received honors from the chola kings.
Conclusion
The Chola period in south India was golden area of art and architecture. they promoted all these arts
and also changes timely.