Places of Interest

Places of interest Ariyalur

Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikondacholapuram, Jayankondam

The district became famous in 2008, when theft of 8 idols were discovered from a 9th-century Chola Brahadeeswarar Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram was discovered by the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India. One of these idols, the Sripuranthan Natarajan Idol found its way to the National Gallery of Australia. Two of the stolen statues were returned and are now displayed in the Government Museum at Kumbakonam.[13][14]