The Ponneri tank — a massive structure set up by the Rajendra Chola I — close to the temple of Sri Brahadeeswarar in Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district about 8 km from Jayamkondam.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
The Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council has suggested that the statue of King Rajendra Chola I proposed to be installed in Tamil Nadu be located at Cholagangam, the massive lake that was built by the emperor as a “liquid pillar of victory” after his victorious expedition to the Ganges. The lake is currently known as Ponneri.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Gangaikondacholapuram last year, had announced that a grand statue of King Rajendra Chola would be installed in Tamil Nadu.“To truly command the reverence of history, it (the statue) must be enshrined within a setting of profound historical consequence. There is no site more fitting than the banks of Cholagangam,” the council said.This was the conclusion reached at a symposium of historical scholars, archaeologists, and heritage advocates, council chairman R. Komagan said in a statement here.During the millennium celebrations of Rajendra Chola I’s historic Southeast Asian naval expedition, held at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid profound tribute to the Chola legacy, released a commemorative ₹1,000 coin featuring the image of the emperor’s naval fleet and announced that a grand statue of Rajendra Chola would be installed soon, Mr. Komagan pointed out.The statue is envisioned as a “modern pillar of historical consciousness,” honouring the emperor’s unparalleled contributions to governance, culture, and global maritime trade.“Placing the grand statue amidst the waters or on the embankments of the Cholagangam Lake would not only honour the Emperor’s military genius but also celebrate his visionary contribution to water management and the prosperity of his people,” the council said.It pointed out that the Tiruvalangadu Copper Plates provide a profound historical account of the Cholagangam lake, recording that Emperor Rajendra Chola I excavated this massive reservoir to commemorate his victorious expedition to the Ganges. According to these epigraphical records, he sanctified the lake by pouring holy water brought from the Ganges into its depths. The copper plates describe this hydraulic marvel as a “Jala-stambha” — a liquid pillar of victory.“While other conquerors erected stone pillars to mark their triumphs, Rajendra Chola chose to create a life-giving waterbody that would serve his people for centuries. To this day, the lake remains a vital resource and a site of deep cultural reverence, celebrated by the local community as a living testament to the Emperor’s vision and his enduring legacy in the Ariyalur region,” Mr. Komagan said.Installing the Rajendra Chola statue on the western embankment of the Ponneri would offer a significant orientation, facing the great Brihadeeswara Temple. A specific plot, slightly recessed from the shoreline near Amanakkantondi village, had been identified as the most suitable location by the scholars, he added. Published - May 16, 2026 06:36 pm IST
