Describe the major achievements of Rajaraja Chola I during his reign.

Rajaraja Chola I ruled from 985 to 1014 and made several important achievements. He conquered parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and northern Sri Lanka, expanding the Chola Empire significantly. He also conquered the Maldives, which were known as the "islands of the sea". In architecture, he built the magnificent BṛihadīShvara temple at Thanjavur, also called RajarajeShvaram. He showed religious tolerance by facilitating the construction of a Buddhist vihara at Nagapaṭṭinam for the Shrīvijaya Empire, demonstrating his diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian kingdoms.