Constructed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II, this master-piece was completed in 705 CE. The temple was built using two main raw materials, namely sandstone and granite. Granite, one of the hardest materials known, was used in the foundation or base, to withstand the entire weight of the super- structure, which was constructed with sandstone. Revered as one of the one of the earliest structural temples of South India, this magnificent edifice is a treasure- trove of exquisite architectural features, breath-taking goprams and intricate sculptures.The Vimana has all six components of Dravidian architecture, namely adhishtanam, bhitti, prasthara, griva, shikara and stupi.