List of Chola kings Early Cholas Ilamcetcenni  ·   Karikala Chola Nedunkilli  ·   Killivalavan  ·   Kopperuncholan Kocengannan  ·   Perunarkilli Interregnum (c.200–848)

Medieval Cholas Vijayalaya Chola 848–871(?) Aditya I 871–907 Parantaka Chola I 907–950 Gandaraditya 950–957 Arinjaya Chola 956–957 Sundara Chola 957–970 Uttama Chola 970–985 Rajaraja Chola I 985–1014 Rajendra Chola I 1012–1044 Rajadhiraja Chola 1018–1054 Rajendra Chola II 1051–1063 Virarajendra Chola 1063–1070 Athirajendra Chola 1067–1070 Later Cholas Kulothunga Chola I 1070–1120 Vikrama Chola 1118–1135 Kulothunga Chola II 1133–1150 Rajaraja Chola II 1146–1163 Rajadhiraja Chola II 1163–1178 Kulothunga Chola III 1178–1218 Rajaraja Chola III 1216–1256 Rajendra Chola III 1246–1279

Chola society Chola government Chola military  ·   Chola Navy Chola art  ·   Chola literature Solesvara Temples Poompuhar  ·   Urayur Gangaikonda Cholapuram Thanjavur  ·   Telugu Cholas edit

Urayur (Tamil : உறையூர்), located near the city of Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, India, was the capital of the early Cholas from ancient times. It is mentioned in the inscriptions and rock edicts of Ashoka the Great and the Satavahanas as "the citadel and centre of the Cholas". It has a history dating back to before 2 BCE. There is definite mention of the Cholas and their capital in Asokan inscriptions in Orissa pushing back the antiquity of the Cholas as well as Uraiyur to 272–232 BCE which was the period of Ashoka who was ruler of the Maurya Dynasty of Pataliputra (modern Patna).

Uraiyur is also mentioned as the capital of the ancient great Chola King Karikalan before the first century CE until the dynasty was revived by Vijayalaya Chola c. 850 CE. The Cholas were one of the four great Tamil dynasties; (Pallavas, Cheras and Pandyas are the other three) who ruled over the Tamil country in South India, the Konkan coast, Deccan Plateau and during the peak reached beyond the Narmada up to the Ganga-Damodar delta from early antiquity.

The word Urayur in Tamil literally means "the residence". Urayur was an ancient Chola city with a fortress and city wall on the southern banks of the river Kaveri. The Imperial Cholas of the 9th century CE and later made Tanjavur their capital, and Urayur slowly lost its place in the Chola administration.

Urayur is also known as Thirukkozhi / Nikalaapuri / Uranthai.

Several notable temples are situated here:

• Naachiyaar Temple
• Panchavarneswara temple
• Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple
• Vekkaliamman temple

[edit] References

• Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1935). The CōĻas, University of Madras, Madras (Reprinted 1984).