FREE HolidayIQ Newsletter Deals, holiday ideas & more
Sightseeing Highlights:
Thanjavur is home to the famous granite-stoneBrihadeeswara Temple built by Raja Raja Chola I, one of the UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites. Its 14-storey Vimana (216 feet) and the exquisite workmanship is a fascinating sight.The Nandi Bull opposite to the sanctum sanctorum weighing 20 tonnes is carved from a single stone.
Other places of interest are the Sarabhoji Maharajas Fort, Rajagopal Arsenal Tower, Sadar Mahal, BellTower, Saraswathi Mahal Library with its rare collection of ancient books and manuscripts, and the art gallery. The Sangeetha Mahal has an acoustically perfect musical hall.Our Lady of Sorrows Churchin Pookara Street, dating back to pre-1740 A.D., and Sacred Heart Cathedral Church are some ancient churches here.
Activities:
There are a number of excursion options from Thanjavur, such as to the Gangaikondacholapuram Temple, NageswaraswamiTemple and the AiravateswaraTemple. Other excursion destinations are Thiruvaiyaru (13 kms) associated with the Carnatic music saint Thyagaraja and the Carnatic classical music festival held in the month of January, PanchanatheswaraTemple, Dharasuram (32 kms) and Kumbakonam (36 kms).
Draped in centuries of cultural and religious tradition, Thanjavurexudes the quiet wisdom of the past. Located on the East coast of Tamil Nadu, 200 miles South of Chennai,the river Cauvery washes its banks.The river and a network of irrigation canals nurture this coastal district and its abundant paddy fields, coconut groves,and mango and plantain orchards, making it the 'Rice Bowl' of Tamil Nadu. The Chola and MutharayarsKings had made it their capital and the Nayaks and Maratha Kings further developed its art and culture.Thanjavur derives its name from the asura Tanjan.
The district is famous for exquisite bronze figures, bell-metal castings, Tanjore swami metal work, pith work, jackfruit wood musical instruments, handloom silk and cotton sarees, Thanjavur paintings of Krishna and other deities, the famous Thanjavur dancing doll, and the Tanjore Art Plates.
Tanjore temple - a grandeur in Architecture - The greatness of the Tanjore temple is marked by the enormous Lingam - the 'Brihadeeswarar' which is the prime deity of the shrine.
A Delta of Fertile Minds - The Cauvery delta region of Thanjavur seems to have been the happening place in the 18-19th centuries, as far as Carnatic music is concerned.
Official Websites
Tamil Nadu Tourism - Tamil Nadu Tourism Government portal - Official website of Dept. of Tourism, covers Tamil Nadu Entry formalities, Places of Interest in Tamil Nadu, List of Tourist Guides in Tamil Nadu and Transportation in Tamil Nadu.
Government of Tamil Nadu - Tamil Nadu Government portal covering diverse topics including health, tourism, culture, climate, Tenders and e-Governance.
Other Useful Links
Weather - Weather forecast for Thanjavur with a fast, easy to use interface. Includes weather maps, graphics and radar images.
Tanjore Paintings - The premise of Tanjore painting is essentially religion and spirituality and the art is renowned for its artistic portray of legendary characters and themes.
