Thanjavur
Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu
General Information
Other Name: Tanjore, District: Thanjavur, State: Tamil Nadu, India
Area: 30 Sq. Km.
Languages Spoken: Tamil and English
Long Distance Code: +91-4362
Importance:
Best Time to Visit: November to February and In May-June to witnees the 9 day annual festival.
Description
This erstwhile capital of the Chola Kings, this small town of Thanjavur is famous today for its beautifully architectured temples and the amazing bronze works it creates. It is centre for the classical arts like dance and music. <br />According to a legend this temple town was named after a demon called Thanjan, who was slayed here and the Gods granted his last wish of naming the town after him. Thanjavur came into prominence only during the reign of the Chola Kings. There are as many as 74 temples in this town each having its own charateristics. The architecture and the paintings of Thanjavur were encouraged by the Chola Kings.Location
Around 345 kms from the state capital of Chennai, Thanjavur is around 50 kms from Trichy and is most famous for its Brihadeeswara Temple.
Built by the great Chola king, Raja Raja I in the 10th century AD, this temple is an outstanding example of the Chola architecture. Dedicated to Nandi, the bull and the mount of Lord Shiva, it has a gigantic stuatue of the diety made of granite rock. The unique feature of this temple is that although it is 216 feet high, its shadow never falls on the ground! Guarding the inner shrine of the temple is the gigantic statue of Nandi, the Bull, while the walls of the sanctum are covered, with the wall paintings of Chola and Nayak periods, comparable to the famous Ajanta cave frescoes.\r\nThere is a beautiful palace right next to the temple built by the Marathas and the Nayaks in the 16th century which is worth visiting for its magnificent masonry. The palace houses the Mannar Saroboji Saraswathi Mahal Library, Art Gallery and Sangeetha Mahal. The library has one of the most important oriental manuscripts collections, in India. Established around 1700 AD, the library contains a collection of over 44,000 palm leaf, and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages. Over eighty per cent of its manuscripts are in Sanskrit, many on palm leaves, some very rare or even unique. The Tamil works includes treatises on medicine, and commentaries on works from the Sangam period.
Thanjavur being the city of temples, there are many temples also in the vicinity of the town. The Gangaikondacholapuram temple lies right next to Kumbakonam. The son of Chola king Raja Raja, Rajendra Chola, had built the temple on the lines of the Big Temple of Thanjavur. Till date even the ruins of the temple are visited for the splendid specimens of the Chola sculpture. Similarly the sculptures at the Nageswaraswami temple of Kumbakonam and the temple of Airavateswara of Darasuram will not fail to sweep you off your feet. The artistic carvings are amazing. The visit to the Gangaikondacholapuram temple, Nageswaraswami Temple and the Airavateswara Temple is mandatory to complete the trip to Thanjavur. \r\nAt a distance of 13 kilometers from Thanjavur is the Thiruvaiyaru associated with saint Thyagaraja. While at Thiruvaiyaru do visit the celebrated Panchanatheswara temple, which has been dedicated to Lord Shiva. In fact Thiruvaiyaru also happens to be the host for the eight-daylong annual Thyagaraja Aradhana music Festival in the month of January.\r\nFrom Thanjavur at a distance of 36 kilometers at Kumbakonam are the semi erotic sculptures at the Sarangapani, Kumbeswarar, Nageswara and Ramaswamy temples attract many tourists. Kumbakonam is the venue of the magnificent Mahamaham festival that is celebrated once in every 12 years.
Incredible India Tour / PI-0457 (23 Days / 22 Nights)
Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Jhansi-Orchha-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Mumbai-Kochi-Thekkady-Madurai-Tiruchirappalli-Thanjavur-Puducherry-Mamallapuram-Kanchipuram-Chennai
Full of colorful pageantry, enriching culture and exquisite traditions, India is a land of contrasts that evokes countless images even in the minds of the most seasoned travelers. Embark on this Incredible India tour and get yourself a hold over a delectable serving of customs, culture and tradition with a hint of heritage to top it all.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi
Day 3 : Delhi - Jaipur
Day 4 : Jaipur
Day 5 : Jaipur - Agra
Day 6 : Agra
Day 7 : Agra - Jhansi - Orchha
Day 8 : Orchha - Khajuraho
Day 9 : Khajuraho
Day 10 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
Day 11 : Varanasi - Mumbai
Day 12 : Mumbai
Day 13 : Mumbai-Kochi
Day 14 : Kochi-Thekkady
Day 15 : Thekkady
Day 16 : Thekkady-Madurai
Day 17 : Madurai-Tiruchirappalli
Day 18 : Tiruchirappalli-Thanjavur
Day 19 : Thanjavur - Puducherry
Day 20 : Puducherry - Mamallapuram
Day 21 : Mamallapuram - Kanchipuram - Chennai
Day 22 : Chennai
Day 23 : Chennai
Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Jhansi-Orchha-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Mumbai-Kochi-Thekkady-Madurai-Tiruchirappalli-Thanjavur-Puducherry-Mamallapuram-Kanchipuram-Chennai
Full of colorful pageantry, enriching culture and exquisite traditions, India is a land of contrasts that evokes countless images even in the minds of the most seasoned travelers. Embark on this Incredible India tour and get yourself a hold over a delectable serving of customs, culture and tradition with a hint of heritage to top it all.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi
Day 3 : Delhi - Jaipur
Day 4 : Jaipur
Day 5 : Jaipur - Agra
Day 6 : Agra
Day 7 : Agra - Jhansi - Orchha
Day 8 : Orchha - Khajuraho
Day 9 : Khajuraho
Day 10 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
Day 11 : Varanasi - Mumbai
Day 12 : Mumbai
Day 13 : Mumbai-Kochi
Day 14 : Kochi-Thekkady
Day 15 : Thekkady
Day 16 : Thekkady-Madurai
Day 17 : Madurai-Tiruchirappalli
Day 18 : Tiruchirappalli-Thanjavur
Day 19 : Thanjavur - Puducherry
Day 20 : Puducherry - Mamallapuram
Day 21 : Mamallapuram - Kanchipuram - Chennai
Day 22 : Chennai
Day 23 : Chennai
South India 16 Days 15 Nights / PRKT-PI-47 (16 Days / 15 Nights)
Chennai-Mamallapuram-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai-Thekkady-Kumarakom-Alappuzha-Kochi-Kovalam-Thiruvananthapuram
Chennai- Mahabalipuram-Tanjore-Trichy- Madurai-Periyar-Kumarkom-Allepy-Cochin-Kovalam-Trivandrum
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Chennai
Day 2 : Chennai - Mamallapuram
Day 3 : Mamallapuram
Day 4 : Mamallapuram - Thanjavur
Day 5 : Thanjavur
Day 6 : Thanjavur - Tiruchirappalli - Madurai
Day 7 : Madurai-Thekkady
Day 8 : Thekkady
Day 9 : Thekkady-Kumarakom
Day 10 : Alappuzha - Kochi
Day 11 : Kochi
Day 12 : Kochi-Kovalam
Day 13 : Kovalam
Day 14 : Kovalam
Day 15 : Kovalam
Day 16 : Kovalam-Thiruvananthapuram
Chennai-Mamallapuram-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai-Thekkady-Kumarakom-Alappuzha-Kochi-Kovalam-Thiruvananthapuram
Chennai- Mahabalipuram-Tanjore-Trichy- Madurai-Periyar-Kumarkom-Allepy-Cochin-Kovalam-Trivandrum
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Chennai
Day 2 : Chennai - Mamallapuram
Day 3 : Mamallapuram
Day 4 : Mamallapuram - Thanjavur
Day 5 : Thanjavur
Day 6 : Thanjavur - Tiruchirappalli - Madurai
Day 7 : Madurai-Thekkady
Day 8 : Thekkady
Day 9 : Thekkady-Kumarakom
Day 10 : Alappuzha - Kochi
Day 11 : Kochi
Day 12 : Kochi-Kovalam
Day 13 : Kovalam
Day 14 : Kovalam
Day 15 : Kovalam
Day 16 : Kovalam-Thiruvananthapuram
Temple Tour of Tamil Nadu / PI-0107 (7 Days / 6 Nights)
Chennai-Mamallapuram-Kanchipuram-Mamallapuram-Puducherry-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai-Chennai
Tamil Nadu is one of the southern states in India. Tamil Nadu is famous for its innumerous temples and beaches, along with its delicious cuisine. This tour starts from the capital city of the state, Chennai, to take you around the places of main pilgrimage centres of the south.Unfortunately many temples here do not allow non-hindus to enter the sanctorium. But to watch the architecture of the temples from outside itself is a breath taking experience. Come and enjoy this five day tour and get entjralled with the mytholocgial stories related to the temples and the beautiful architecture along with an insight to the dravidian culture.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Chennai
Day 2 : Chennai - Mamallapuram
Day 3 : Mamallapuram - Kanchipuram - Mamallapuram
Day 4 : Mamallapuram - Puducherry -Thanjavur
Day 5 : Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai
Day 6 : Madurai
Day 7 : Madurai-Chennai
Chennai-Mamallapuram-Kanchipuram-Mamallapuram-Puducherry-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai-Chennai
Tamil Nadu is one of the southern states in India. Tamil Nadu is famous for its innumerous temples and beaches, along with its delicious cuisine. This tour starts from the capital city of the state, Chennai, to take you around the places of main pilgrimage centres of the south.Unfortunately many temples here do not allow non-hindus to enter the sanctorium. But to watch the architecture of the temples from outside itself is a breath taking experience. Come and enjoy this five day tour and get entjralled with the mytholocgial stories related to the temples and the beautiful architecture along with an insight to the dravidian culture.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Chennai
Day 2 : Chennai - Mamallapuram
Day 3 : Mamallapuram - Kanchipuram - Mamallapuram
Day 4 : Mamallapuram - Puducherry -Thanjavur
Day 5 : Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai
Day 6 : Madurai
Day 7 : Madurai-Chennai
Dravidian Heritage / PC-644 (15 Days / 14 Nights)
Chennai-Covelong-Kanchipuram-Mamallapuram-Covelong-Puducherry-Chidambaram-Swamimalai-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai-Thekkady-Kochi-Guruvayur-Kozhikode-Mysore-Chikmaglur-Shravanabelagola-Bengaluru
South India, stretching south of the Vindhya Mountain ranges down to the coastal areas surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, covers a vast swathe of the Deccan plateau. The states in this region are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, all four of which have their own languages, slightly differing from each other, but vastly different from the language and culture of the Indian heartland in the North and West. South India has two major claims to being a tourist attraction. Thousands of miles of pristine coastline and sandy beaches, dotted with sea side resorts and the ancient Hindu heritage architecture, temples and remnants of the Indus valley civilization. Boat trips on the backwater canals and protected wetlands, not to mention the health spas and Ayurveda clinics, make for a rejuvenating vacation, and most tourists leave Kerala in much better shape, mentally and physically, than when they came in.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Chennai-Covelong
Day 2 : Covelong-Kanchipuram-Mamallapuram-Covelong
Day 3 : Covelong-Puducherry
Day 4 : Puducherry-Chidambaram-Swamimalai
Day 5 : Swamimalai-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai
Day 6 : Madurai
Day 7 : Madurai-Thekkady
Day 8 : Thekkady-Kochi
Day 9 : Kochi
Day 10 : Kochi-Guruvayur-Kozhikode
Day 11 : Kozhikode-Mysore
Day 12 : Mysore
Day 13 : Mysore-Chikmaglur
Day 14 : Chikmaglur-Shravanabelagola-Bengaluru
Day 15 : Bengaluru
Chennai-Covelong-Kanchipuram-Mamallapuram-Covelong-Puducherry-Chidambaram-Swamimalai-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai-Thekkady-Kochi-Guruvayur-Kozhikode-Mysore-Chikmaglur-Shravanabelagola-Bengaluru
South India, stretching south of the Vindhya Mountain ranges down to the coastal areas surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, covers a vast swathe of the Deccan plateau. The states in this region are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, all four of which have their own languages, slightly differing from each other, but vastly different from the language and culture of the Indian heartland in the North and West. South India has two major claims to being a tourist attraction. Thousands of miles of pristine coastline and sandy beaches, dotted with sea side resorts and the ancient Hindu heritage architecture, temples and remnants of the Indus valley civilization. Boat trips on the backwater canals and protected wetlands, not to mention the health spas and Ayurveda clinics, make for a rejuvenating vacation, and most tourists leave Kerala in much better shape, mentally and physically, than when they came in.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Chennai-Covelong
Day 2 : Covelong-Kanchipuram-Mamallapuram-Covelong
Day 3 : Covelong-Puducherry
Day 4 : Puducherry-Chidambaram-Swamimalai
Day 5 : Swamimalai-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Madurai
Day 6 : Madurai
Day 7 : Madurai-Thekkady
Day 8 : Thekkady-Kochi
Day 9 : Kochi
Day 10 : Kochi-Guruvayur-Kozhikode
Day 11 : Kozhikode-Mysore
Day 12 : Mysore
Day 13 : Mysore-Chikmaglur
Day 14 : Chikmaglur-Shravanabelagola-Bengaluru
Day 15 : Bengaluru
Thanjavur, India Tours
