Tanjore — Travel Guide
Tanjore (Thanjavur, the imperial capital of the Medieval Chola Empire, celebrated "Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu", UNESCO World Heritage cradle of Classical Carnatic music, Bharatnatyam dance, and monumental granite temple architecture in Tamil Nadu, situated in the fertile delta of the sacred Kaveri River), is one of South India's greatest cultural treasures.
Brihadeeswarar Temple — 1,000-Year Old UNESCO World Heritage Chola Big Temple in Thanjavur
Serving as the royal capital of the Chola emperors, Nayak rulers, and Maratha kings from the 9th to 19th centuries, Thanjavur represents the golden age of South Indian art and temple engineering.
The city is famous globally for its historical wonders: the monumental 1,000 year old Brihadeeswarar Temple (The Big Temple) built by Emperor Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 AD (featuring a soaring 66 meter granite vimana and an 80 tonne single stone capstone), the sprawling Thanjavur Maratha Palace (Aranmanai) with its ornate Durbar Hall, the legendary Saraswathi Mahal Library (housing over 60,000 rare palm leaf manuscripts), the 1779 AD Schwartz Church, the ancient 2nd century AD Grand Anicut (Kallanai Dam), and centuries old artisanal studios of 22 karat gold foil Thanjavur Paintings and bronze casting.
Connected via modern highways just 40 km from Trichy, 40 km from Kumbakonam, 85 km from Nagapattinam, 110 km from Dindigul, 190 km from Madurai, and 340 km from Chennai, Thanjavur is the cultural heart of Tamil Nadu.
Best Time to Visit Tanjore:
- October to March (Winter / Peak Season):** Pleasant, breezy weather (20°C to 30°C), perfect for exploring the open granite courtyard of the Big Temple.
- January (Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival at Thiruvaiyaru & Pongal):** World famous classical Carnatic music festival where hundreds of musicians gather to sing Pancharatna Kritis.
- July to September (Monsoon):** Refreshing rains turning the Kaveri delta into emerald green paddy fields.
Famous Thanjavur Culinary Specialties:
- Thanjavur Kadappa: Wholesome spiced potato and moong dal gravy served with hot fluffy idlis and dosas.
- Kaveri Delta Sambar & Rasam: Freshly ground spice blends cooked with local vegetables and lentils.
- Thiruvaiyaru Ashoka Halwa: Rich dessert prepared from moong dal, sugar, and desi ghee.
- Chettinad Pepper Chicken & Mutton Sukka: Flavorful slow cooked spiced meat dishes.
- Traditional Banana Leaf Meals: Rice served with *poriyal*, *kootu*, *avial*, appalam, and homemade curd.
By Train:
Thanjavur Junction Railway Station (Station Code: TJ): Direct express and superfast trains connect to Chennai (Cholan Express, Uzhavan Express, Rameswaram Express), Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, and Tirupati.
By Air:
Tiruchirappalli International Airport (Airport Code: TRZ - 55 km west): Nearest commercial airport operating regular flights connecting Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, and Colombo. Hill cabs and buses take 1 hour via NH-83.
By Road:
- From Trichy (~55 km / 1 hour):** Via 4 lane NH-83 expressway.
- From Chennai (~340 km / 6.5 hours):** Via NH-32 / NH-36 through Tindivanam, Panruti, and Kumbakonam.
- From Madurai (~190 km / 3.5 hours):** Via NH-38 and NH-83 through Pudukkottai.
- From Bangalore (~380 km / 7.5 hours):** Via Salem, Namakkal, and Trichy.
- SETC and TNSTC express buses run 24x7 from Thanjavur New Bus Stand to all major towns.
Local Transport:
City buses, auto rickshaws, taxis, and cycle rickshaws connect the railway station, Big Temple, palace, and bus stands.
Shopping in Tanjore offers gold foil paintings, bronze statues, and traditional dancing dolls:
- Palace Road & Gandhiji Road: World famous **Thanjavur Gold Foil Paintings** with semi precious stones, GI tagged **Thanjavur Dancing Dolls (Thalaiyatti Bommai)**, lost wax bronze idols, and Tanjore silk sarees.
Must-Visit Places in Tanjore
Tanjore and its historic royal precincts feature UNESCO world heritage granite temples, Maratha palaces, ancient manuscript libraries, and historic irrigation dams:
1. Brihadeeswarar Temple (The Big Temple) & UNESCO Great Living Chola Monument (1010 AD)
A masterpiece of Dravidian architecture built by King Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 AD. Constructed entirely of interlocking granite without mortar, featuring a 66 meter high sanctum tower (*Vimana*), an 80 tonne monolithic granite *Kumbam* apex, a massive 20 tonne monolithic Nandi statue, and ancient Chola fresco murals.
Brihadeeswarar Temple — 1,000-Year Old Chola Granite Architecture Marvel in Thanjavur
2. Thanjavur Maratha Palace (Aranmanai) & Royal Durbar Hall Art Gallery
A vast royal complex constructed by the Nayak rulers and expanded by the Marathas. Highlights include the magnificent Maratha Durbar Hall adorned with colorful stucco murals, the 7 story Bell Tower (*Mani Mandapam*), and the Royal Art Gallery exhibiting world famous Chola bronzes.
Thanjavur Maratha Palace — Royal Durbar Hall and Chola Bronze Art Gallery
3. Saraswathi Mahal Library & Ancient Royal Palm Leaf Manuscript Archive
One of the oldest libraries in Asia, described by Encyclopaedia Britannica as "the most remarkable library in India." Established in the 16th century, it preserves over 60,000 rare palm leaf and paper manuscripts, ancient atlases, and medical treaties in Sanskrit, Tamil, Marathi, and Telugu collected by King Serfoji II.
Saraswathi Mahal Library — Ancient Royal Archive of Rare Palm Leaf Manuscripts
4. Grand Anicut (Kallanai Dam) & 2nd Century AD Kaveri Engineering Marvel (20 km)
The oldest functional water regulator dam in the world, built by the Chola King Karikalan across the Kaveri River in the 2nd century AD. Spanning 329 meters in length, its un mortared stone masonry still irrigates thousands of acres of fertile delta farmland.
Grand Anicut (Kallanai) — Ancient 2nd Century AD Kaveri Dam Built by King Karikala Chola
5. Schwartz Church (1779 AD Colonial Heritage Sanctuary in Palace Gardens)
A historic Protestant church constructed in 1779 by Maratha King Serfoji II to honor his Danish tutor and mentor, Rev. Christian Friedrich Schwartz. Houses a white marble memorial monument sculpted by English artist John Flaxman.
Schwartz Church — 1779 Colonial Heritage Sanctuary Built by King Serfoji II
6. Sangeetha Mahal & 16th Century Acoustic Music Hall of Nayak Kings
A 16th century acoustically engineered auditorium inside the palace complex, designed with sound absorbing wall niches and vaulted ceilings for classical music concerts.
7. Sivaganga Park & Historic Chola Water Moat Gardens
A landscaped municipal park and garden adjoining the Big Temple, featuring the historic Sivaganga water tank built by Raja Raja Chola I.
8. Punnainallur Mariamman Temple & Mud Sculpted Goddess Shrine (7 km)
A renowned Shakti temple 7 km east of Thanjavur, where the self manifested deity was crafted from white ant hill mud and consecrated by sage Sadasiva Brahmendra.
9. Swamimalai Bronze Casting Workshops & Chola Lost Wax Metal Art (34 km)
The traditional artisan center where hereditary sthapathis practice the ancient lost wax technique to cast bronze idols of Nataraja and Hindu deities.
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