The Cholas were great lovers of art and prolific builders. They built grand palaces, artificial lakes, large dams, beautiful cities, sculptures of metal and stone and grand temples. Architecture The main contribution of Chola architecture is temple construction. These temples were built in the Dravidian style. The great Chola rulers took Dravidian architecture to its pear during their reign.

The main features of the temples built by them were-huge and square vimana, a large courtyard in the centre, ornamental Gopuram, Mandapa, lion, traditional brackets for inner decoration and use of joint pillars etc. The Rajarajeshwar or Brihadeshwar temple built by Rajaraja I at Tanjore is considered to be the epitome of Chola architectural excellence.

Sculpture – Alongwith architecture, the Chola craftsmen were skilled in the art of metal-casting. The fine examples of metal – craft and sculpting in this period are the stone, bronze and octal metal statues of Brahma, Vishnu, Nataraj, Kings queens etc. Apart from Shiva statues, bronze statues of other Shaivite goods like Parvati, Shankar, Kartikeya and Ganesha etc. were made.

Painting – Chola painting was a developed form of the pallava -pandey branch. In the wall paintings, the religious paintings done on the walls of Brihadeshwar temple were influenced by the Ajanta paintings. Pictures of Shiva, Kailash, Nandi etc. were made. Excellent examples of painting are found in Thanjavur.

Literature – The Chola rulers were patrons of eudcation and literature. Temples and Gram Mahasabhas were centres of education and learning. Tamil and Sanskrit languages were prevalent. Tamil had royal patronage. Kamban wrote a book named ‘Ramavatara’. Kamban lived in the court of Kolottunga III. Jayangondar wrote a treatise ‘Kalitunga Parni’. He was the court poet of Chola ruler Kolottunga I.

Shekkillaar’s ‘Priyapuranam’ and ‘Pulagendis’s ‘Nalabemba’ were important literary creations. The other important creations included religious treatises – Tirutatondapuram’ by Priya Purnam or Shekhara; Nandi’s Tiruvillaiyadal Purnam’, Amudnaar’s ‘Ramanuj Nurandadi’, ‘Tirukadevar’s, “Shivakoshindamani’ etc., and Buddhimitra’s Virasolium’, Pabandi’s ‘Nannore’ etc. were the major grammar tomes.