About Tanjore

Thanjavur, in the south of Tamil Nadu, is the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, the capital of the Medieval Chola Period, and the birthplace of many of Tamil Nadu's art forms. Thanjavur has been under various reigns, from the early Cholas to the Maratha Bhonsle. The city has contributed to many forms of art in Tamil Nadu, to name a few: the paintings of Tanjore, the dolls, and the fine-tuning of the classical Bharatanatyam styles.

The well-liked medieval Chola King Vijayalaya retook the throne after the Pandyas had ruled the city for a considerable time, and the city remained the centre of power for about 300 years. The Nayak Kings, famous for patronising the arts and music during their rule, have contributed more to the development of art and culture. The city in the Cauvery Delta has been a prominent agricultural hub, serving people across Tamil Nadu.

The city is one of the major tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu. The South Zone Cultural Centre, established by the government, is keen to promote and preserve India's cultural heritage. The fact that five museums in Thanjavur depict the lifestyles of many dynasties would surprise you. Some museums that house conserved idols, palm-leaf manuscripts, and other priceless artefacts include the Archaeological Museum, the Tamil University Museum, the Saraswathy Mahal Library Museum, the Nayak Darbar Hall Museum, and the Raja Raja Chola Museum.

The most important monument to be visited in Thanjavur is the Brahadeeswarar Temple, popularly known as the Big Temple. It was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. The temple was constructed by the medieval king Raja Raja Cholan during the 11th century. Even after a thousand years, it stands as an engineering marvel, and the technology used to build the huge Lingam and the single-stone tomb atop the tower remains a mystery.

The other places of interest are the Saraswathy Mahal Library, housed inside the Thanjavur Palace. The library has a collection of 30,000 manuscripts, including palm-leaf manuscripts. The entire library is a reference section that preserves original works on Indian and British literature, as well as on other subjects.

The Darbar Hall of the Maratha Palace is another place to visit. The next place to visit is Sivaganga Park, opened to the public in the mid-18th century.

Enjoy the mesmerising architecture of the Big Temple and the other fascinating tourist attractions of Thanjavur, the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu!

How To Reach Tanjore Tourist Place?

To reach Tanjore, you can use several modes of transportation. 

By Air: The nearest airport is Trichy, 70 km from Thanjavur. It is about a 1.5-hour drive, depending on traffic.

By Train: Thanjavur is well-connected to major cities across southern India. The Thanjavur Junction (TJ) is the nearest railway station to reach here, and it is hardly a 5-minute ride from there.

By Road: The city is connected to major cities in Tamil Nadu via well-maintained national highways including: NH-36 (formerly NH-45C), NH-83, roads, and the East Coast Road (ECR) ensuring smooth travel.