---
title: "Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram: Chola Site | Model Diplomat"
description: "The Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram is a UNESCO-listed 12th-century Chola temple, crucial for UPSC art and culture studies."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/airavatesvara-temple-darasuram"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram is a 12th-century Chola Shiva temple in Tamil Nadu, inscribed as one of UNESCO's Great Living Chola Temples.
- Who built the Airavatesvara Temple and when?
- Why is the Airavatesvara Temple a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
- What makes the Airavatesvara Temple architecturally distinctive?
- How does Darasuram differ from the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In 2004, UNESCO extended its World Heritage inscription to include the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram among the Great Living Chola Temples, alongside the original 1987 listing of the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur.

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