Thanjavur Tourism

Thanjavur is a famous temple town located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as the 'Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu' due to the heaviest yielding of the paddy crop in its area. This ancient city served as the royal seat of authority for the various powerful dynasties like Rashtrakuta, Chola, Pandya, Chera, Hoysala, and Raya. Krishnadeva Raya was the last Hindu ruler of this place.

The temple town of Thanjavur is elevated at the height of 290 feet above the sea level. It's rough terrains unroll across an area of 36 sq. km. The tributaries of the River Kaveri quench the thirst of the land of Thanjavur. It has a subtropical climate. The summers in this region are scorching as the mercury level shoot up to 40°C. The winter season is a pleasant time as the average temperatures do not raise beyond 14°C.

Thanjavur is famous for the intricately carved temples. These temples store the amazing tales for the visitors. Also, there are other places like Thanjavur Fort, Brihadeeshwara Temple, Sivaganga Park, and much more.

Brihadisvara Temple
Brihadisvara Temple is 216 ft high also known as the Big Temple. A huge statue of the Nandi welcomes pilgrims at the entrance. This divine architecture is the most intricate example of the South Indian temple architecture. It is also counted as the UNESCO World Heritage Site and marks the victory of the Chola Kingdom. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this sanctum sanctorum lures numerous pilgrims and is the most visited place in South India.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram
It was the capital of the Cholas for a very long span of time. Gangaikonda Cholapuram has preserved the glorious Indian history. This destination has so much to explore for the history buffs. This temple is also counted amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites for housing numerous stunning temple carvings. Images of goddess Saraswati adorn the entrance of the temple. This shrine is also known for a stone named Chandrakanta which magically makes the temple warm in winter and cool in summer.

Airavatesvara Temple
Airavatesvara Temple is also counted as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it fascinates Vaishnavites and Shivaites from far and near. A thing which amuses the visitors here are the steps which are surrounded by a fence and produce musical tones upon tapping. A notable legend associated with this place is that the famous elephant, Airavat belonging to Lord Indra got rid of the curse given to him by Saint Durvasa.

Thanjavur Royal Palace
Once the royal residence of the Nayak kings, it is also known as the Nayak Palace or Maratha Palace. Large corridors, big halls, arsenal and observation towers and a shady courtyard. This royal palace preserves ancient items like manuscripts, paintings and statues. The idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati are the center of attraction.

The Serfoji Sarasvati Mahal Library
The Serfoji Sarasvati Mahal Library carefully preserves many ancient manuscripts and artefacts. It also houses exquisite paintings and give a clear picture of the working of medieval world. The library also has a collection of 44,000 palm leafs and paper manuscripts in European and Indian languages. Adorned with colorful paintings, it is the place where one can easily find some of the rare manuscripts majority of which are written in Sanskrit.

Manora Fort
This 8-storied fort was constructed in 1814. Rajah Serfoji was the man who laid the foundations of the Manora Fort. Designed meticulously in hexagonal shape, it marks the victory of the Britain over Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo.

Sangeetha Mahal
Sangeetha Mahal was once used for public audiences and cultural activities. The Mahal comprises of a superb auditorium and offers excellent audibility. The sound quality displays the amazing engineering skills of the historic times. Nowadays, it has been transformed into an exhibition hall for showcasing varieties of handicrafts.

Vijayanagar Fort
The initiation of the Vijayanagar Fort was done by the Nayak King, Vijay Raghav in 1550 and it was completed by the Maratha rulers. It comprises of Siva Ganga Garden, Art Gallery and Thanjavur Palace etc. This fort provides ample of opportunities to history buffs and photography enthusiasts.

Aalangudi Temple
As per the legends, Lord Shiva consumed poison here. Also, Aalngudi Temple is dedicated to Lord Guru. Thursday is an auspicious day here. Devotees offer special offerings to the deity and seek blessings from him.