Home :: South India Travel Destinations :: Thanjavur India

» Location : Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
» Built By : Rajaraja Chola In 11th Century

Introduction
The Chola Capital city, Granary of South India, the rice bowl Of Tamil Nadu are few though incomplete ways of introducing the terrific city of Thanjavur. The royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Mahrattas Thanjavur has a rich and varied heritage and is renowned for the same across the globe. The center of knowledge and culture reached its zenith between the 10th and 14th centuries under the reign of the Cholas. Though the magic Thanjavur continues un-faded over the period of time.

Even today in the era of technology Thanjavur remains a center for classical arts and music. The performances by the classical musicians, percussionists and the Bharatnatyam dancers will not fail to sweep you off your feet. Then there is the Tanjore style of painting! The paintings are developed over multiple layers and are usually centered on the Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

History
A demon by the name of Tanjan-an asura lends its name to the terrific town of Thanjavur. As per the legend the last wish of the demon was that the place should be named after him, Sri Anandavalli Amman and Sri Neelamegapperumal granted it.

Places of interest
Sri Brihadeeswara: Built by the great Chola King, Raja Raja 1 in the 10th century AD is an outstanding example of the Chola architecture.

The Palace: The palace near the temple is a vast building of masonry built partly by the Nayaks around 1550 AD and party by the Marathas.

Art Gallery: In the Palace there are a number of granite and bronze statues of the Chola period. Timings : 9.00 - 13.00 hrs. Wednesday Holiday.

Hall of Music: Also in the Palace is an acoustically perfect ancient music hall. Schwartz Church
( In the Palace garden ) Built in 1779 AD by Rajah Serfoji in token of his affection for the Rev. C.V Schwartz of the Danish mission.

Sivaganga Tank: Situated near the palace this tank is known for its sweet water. Tamil University ( 7 kms ), Established in 1981, is engaged in research and advanced studies in Tamil.


Excursions
Thirukandiyur ( 10 Kms ): Temples of Brahmasirekandeswarar and Harshavimochana Perumal.

Kumbakonam ( 36 Kms): Famous for Sarangapani, Kumbeswarar, Nageswarar, and the Ramaswamy temples. Mahamagam congregation takes place once in 12 years; last held in 1992. Major water bird sanctuaries in India. The birds migrate here every year from November to February, from all over the world.

Swamimalai ( 32 Kms): One of the six Abodes (Arupadaiveedu ) dedicated to Lord Subramanya.

Darasuram ( 34 Kms): This temple dedicated to Lord Siva, was built by Rajendra Chola. Daraswaram is also a silk weaving centre.

Thirubuvanam ( 45 Kms ): 13th Centuary Chola temple dedicated to Lord Siva. Thiruvaiyaru ( 13 Kms )

Where the famous Saint Thyagaraja lived and attained Samadhi. Music festival is held here every January in honour of the saint composer.

Manora ( 65 Kms ): The 8-Storey victory tower was built by Rajah Serfoji in 1814 to commemorate the victory of the British over Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo.

Tiruvarur ( 55 Kms ): The Thyagarajaswami Temple here has the biggest temple chariot in Tamil Nadu. This is the birth place of Saint Thyagaraja - one of the musical Trinity. Arulmigu Thyagarajaswamy Car Festival is celebrated in March -April .Boating at Kamalalayam Temple Tank is organised by Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. from April 1997.

Temple Timings: The temple is kept open from 5:30 in the morning to 12:00 in the noon. The temple usually remains closed during the noon hours, and reopens in the evening at 4:00 p.m. The temple closes in the night after the last pujas are performed by 8:00 p.m.

Festivities of Thanjavur: Every month, the day on which the ruling star is Satabhishag is treated as a festival as that was the ruling star at the time of Rajaraja's birth. The other festival is Krittika day in the month of Karttika (also spelt as Kartik).

The annual festival for 9 days is celebrated in the month of 'Visaka' (May-June), during which the drama of Raja Rajeswara is also enacted. The deity is daily bathed with fragrant water in which the buds of big Champaka flowers have been soaked. Ghee is used in place of oil for keeping the temple lamps burning. On festival days, the offering consists of eight varieties of cooked rice (mixed with tamarind, coconut, lime, juice, jaggery, gingelly, curd, etc.). Other items include cake made with Dal, rice, pepper and mustard; vegetable dishes, fried vegetables, sugar, plantain fruits, tamarind, curd and ghee, and other items.

Regular Puja Services: Every day, regular pujas are performed to the deities in the holy shrine. Pujas include Archana, Abhishekam (also spelt as Abhishek) and Prasad o ffering. The daily offering to the deity consists of cooked rice (rice hulled from paddy stocked for not less than four months should be used for cooking purposes), vegetable dishes, ghee, Dal, rice boiled in milk, and Pansupari.

Places to stay in Thanjavur
Accommodation is available at the moderate class hotels, dharmasalas and lodges in Thanjavur.

How to Get There
By Air : The nearest airport is at Trichy (65-km).

By Rail : There is a railway junction in Thanjavur. It is well connected with Trichy, Chennai, Madurai and Nagore.

By Road : Thanjavur is well connected by road with all the major towns and cities in Tamil Nadu and also with Kochi, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Bangalore in Karnataka. There are regular bus services for visiting all places of interest in and around Thanjavur. Tourist taxis are also available.