INDIA, December 21, 2020 (Organiser): The engineering marvel, vision and expertise of Chola kings came to light after the recent torrential rain when water entered the famous Chidambaram Natarajar temple. Following heavy rains, water entered Chidambaram Natarajar temple for the first time in four long decades. Water from Sivaganagi pond flowed into the temple premises making it look like a swimming pool. Priests and devotees had to wade through knee-deep water that clogged drains. After the de-clogging water receded, Annamalai University History department research team led by Assistant professor J R Sivaramakrishnan, discovered a tunnel. They said a 6,561 foot underground drainage system would take water to a five-acre temple tank, known as Thiruparkadal. The team said “the drainage system begins near the north Gopuram ( tower). The temple, which is on a sprawling 51-acre premise has been built to facilitate the flow of water into the drainage.
For several years, Thiruparkada was out of sight as it was encroached upon. When we read the inscription, we found the reference to the existence of the tank. We brought it to the notice of the devotees and the government. Now it is restored. The excess water from the tank would go to Sivapriya Kula, near Thillai Kaali temple, through another drainage system. The temple itself was built on swampland and Veeranam lake was dug to prevent flooding in Chidambaram temple. The Chola Kings had detailed everything and planned for the new town Chidambaram while new settlements were created around Veeranam near Kattumannar Koil. The drainage system was created by Chola King Kulothunga II, whose era was between 1133 and 1150 AD. The recent water stagnation and flooding in the temple premises were due to the construction that has been done over the years and could have caused blockages. The channels inside the temple are now clean and not clogged, engineers explained. Senior Archaeologist R Nagaswamy said water management was a trait seen across several rules, chieftains and administrators all over India, who had built wells, step-wells, tanks, lakes, canals and dams.
More at source.
https://organiser.org/2020/12/21/132517/bharat/massive-historical-findings-about-chola-s/