Brihadeeswarar Temple | Gangaikonda Cholapuram | The Ponniyin Selvan Connect
Ever since Ponniyin Selvan hit the big screen, I’ve wanted to retrace the footsteps of its story in real life. A complete journey across every location from the book would take weeks—some places lie in ruins, some are lost to time, and some stretch all the way into Sri Lanka. So, for a start, I chose to follow just a few of those legendary paths—turning pages into places, and fiction into lived experience.
Paratextual Map: From the original version of Ponniyin Selvan Book
The epic opens at Veeranam Lake with “The Fresh Flood (Pudhu Vellam)”. As Vandiyathevan rides through its shores, he takes in the immensity of the lake, the endless green of the paddy fields it sustains, and the vibrant life of the people. The chapter becomes both a literal and symbolic overflow—the Chola land awakening through water.
Through Vandiyathevan’s eyes, we witness the vastness of the lake.
Kallanai - Grand Anaicut.
At this very point, the Kaveri splits into two—the northern branch becoming Kollidam.
Kallanai Dam: Kallanai — Where Time Still Holds Water.
One of the world’s oldest functioning dams, Kallanai continues to shape the Kaveri delta—an ancient engineering marvel still sustaining modern life.
Kallanai to Thiruvaiyaru: A ribbon of road, suspended between two rivers—where every shade of green tells a 2,000-year-old story.
Driving between two rivers feels less like travel, and more like drifting through history. The 30-minute drive from Kallanai to Thiruvaiyaru is pure magic. Everywhere you look, the land glows in layers of green—paddy fields, coconut groves, and banana plantations stretching endlessly. The road itself feels like an island, running between two mighty rivers, the Kaveri on one side and the Kollidam on the other. It’s impossible not to feel the quiet power of water here—shaping land, life, and civilisation for over two thousand years.
The Vennar River or Vennaaru is a river and distributary of the Kaveri River in the Kaveri delta.
Walking by the shores reminded me of a chapter from the book: Kundavai stages a fake crocodile prank to test Vaanathi’s courage, and when Vaanathi remains calm and unafraid, she proves her worth, while Vandiyathevan’s failed rescue leaves him embarrassed and fleeing as the women laugh.
The Vennar River mentioned in the book
The Vennar River at its calm and serene. We did not find any crocodiles.
Brihadeeswara Temple, Tanjore
Arulmozhi Varman, the hero of Ponniyin Selvan, later ascended the throne in 985 CE as Raja Raja Chola I, and during his reign built the monumental Brihadeeswara Temple, which was completed in 1010 CE—a timeless architectural testament to the greatness and enduring legacy of the Chola Empire.
When we visited the Brihadeeshwara Temple, it was early morning—the sun seemed to seek permission from the clouds to rise, while the clouds still lingered with the promise of rain. Birds moved in quiet flocks, and peacocks stood silently perched on the ancient temple walls, as if guarding it. Amidst all this, the massive temple bells rang out and the early morning mantras for Lord Shiva filled the air—just as they have for over a thousand years. The entire moment felt surreal; even for someone who may not believe in God, the sheer presence of the temple makes you believe in the greatness of the civilization that built and sustained it.
Arulmigu Peruvudaiyar Temple, Gangaikonda Chozhapuram
Amid drifting human silhouettes that pass like fleeting smoke, the ancient stone vimana of the temple stands silent and unmoved. While people come and go in moments, this sacred structure has endured for over 1,500 years, bearing witness to the slow, unstoppable march of time and the civilizations that have risen and faded around it.
