“The Chola rulers were not only mighty conquerors, efficient administrators but also builders of fine temples.” Comment.

Answer:

The Cholas (9th-13th centuries) built one of the most powerful states of early medieval South India. They combined military conquest, sophisticated administration and magnificent temple-building, justifying this three-fold description.

Mighty Conquerors

• Rajaraja I and Rajendra I extended power over South India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
• Rajendra's naval expedition to Srivijaya (South-East Asia) and his northern campaign to the Ganga (title Gangaikonda) show military reach.

Efficient Administrators

Provincial and local government:

• The kingdom was divided into mandalams, valanadus and nadus.
• Remarkable village self-government through assemblies — the ur and the sabha (of brahmadeya villages), with specialised committees (variyams), recorded in the Uttaramerur inscriptions.

Revenue and irrigation:

• Careful land survey, revenue assessment and maintenance of tanks and canals.

Builders of Fine Temples

• The Brihadeshwara (Rajarajeshwara) temple at Thanjavur and the Gangaikondacholapuram temple are masterpieces of Dravida architecture with towering vimanas.
• Temples were centres of religion, economy, art and Chola bronze sculpture (Nataraja).

Therefore, the Cholas were indeed great conquerors, able administrators (notably in local self-government) and superb temple builders, making their age a golden period of South Indian history.