Tourist Places in Thanjavur

Known as the City of Temples, Thanjavur is located in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. The 11th-century Brihadeeswarar Temple is one of the city's several temples; it is a grand structure from the Chola period with colonnaded interiors. The Saraswathi Mahal Library, which houses centuries-old palm-leaf records, and the Thanjavur Art Gallery, which houses bronze statues, are both located in the Thanjavur Maratha Palace. Classical music instruments, money, and traditional relics are on display in the Tamil University Museum. Overall this old city can make you fall in love with the beauty and culture, and giving some time from your really busy schedule to spend time here is worth it.

1. Gangaikonda Cholapuram

You will be enchanted and amazed by the beauty of the Brihadishwara temple and the Gangaikonda Cholapuram due to their engineering and antiquity. Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a location that is a tribute to the region's engineering and architectural brilliance and the pride of one of India's finest empires?the Chola Empire.

During Rajendra Chola's rule in 1025 CE, Gangaikonda Cholapuram was designated as the Cholas' capital, and it remained there for about 250 years. The famed Brihadeeswarar Temple is located in this medieval town. Rajendra Chola I, Rajaraja Chola's son and successor, constructed it. The "Great Living Chola Temples" UNESCO World Heritage Site includes this temple.

Rajendra Chola built this temple following his impressive triumphs in Northern India. After being crowned, he changed his name from Madurantakam to Rajendra, but for a while, he shared the throne with his father, Rajaraja-I.

The Brihadisvara Temple in GangaiKondaCholapuram is thought to be a replica of the original, which was constructed by Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola's father. The largest Shiva Lingam in the Southern region of India is said to be located in this temple. For more than two centuries, Gangaikonda Cholapuram served as the capital of the Chola Empire. This location of tremendous historical significance highlighted the start of one of the greatest reigns in Southern Indian history.

The once-famous historical city is now only a little village, with the Lord Siva temple serving as a reminder of its once-proud past splendor. Gangaikonda Cholapuram, which is sometimes compared to Thanjavur, another outstanding Chola city, is a wonderful destination to discover and uncover its heritage, magnificence, and elaborate marvels and tales, carefully buried deep in history.

2. Brihadeeswarar Temple

Brihadeeswarar Temple is regarded as the most elaborate example of South Indian temple architecture. Raja Raja Chola I constructed the Brihadeeswara temple, one of the city's most significant attractions. It was allegedly built as a celebration of the Chola Kingdom's victory and is now a world heritage site. It is also referred to as Periya Kovil or Peruvudaiyar Kovil. The temple is a component of the "Great Living Chola Temples'' UNESCO World Heritage Site. Brihadeeswarar Temple also referred to as The Big Temple, is a temple devoted to Lord Shiva that is renowned for its size and exquisite artwork.

The temple is made up of an entry tower and the main temple complex that is spread out across a 33,000-square-foot square foot plot of land. A 12-foot-tall monolithic idol with an artistically carved Nandi Mandapa marks the beginning of the temple's interior. A huge mandapa is followed by an antarala and the sanctuary in the main temple of Brihadeeswarar, which has an incredible architecture. The main draw of the 216-foot-tall, Dravidian-styled tower with 13 levels that overlook the sanctum is the temple. The vimana is proud of its enormous, 80-ton weight. According to legend, a 2 km long ramp was constructed to transport and position the Sikhara on the mountain. Sikhara never casts a shadow that hits the floor.

The vimana from the temple is much larger than the temple tower at the entrance, which is unusual for Hindu temples. Exquisite mural paintings once graced the interior walls of the maha mandapa of the temple, but they disintegrated over time owing to neglect. Some of these murals can be found in the museum, which is located in the temple's southern hallway. The walls of the circumambulatory passage's Chola murals had some badly affected sections.

Around 400 years ago, the Tanjore Nayak monarchs replaced them with a few of their unique artworks. The 108 dance positions of Bharatanatyam, the traditional dance of Tamil Nadu, are etched on the exterior wall of the upper level.

3. Vijayanagar Fort

You only have to travel 2 km to reach this amazing palace from the Brihadeeswara temple. In the year 1550 AD, Nayak kings and certain Maratha kings collaborated to construct this magnificent fort. The castle includes a library, an outstanding art gallery, and the Tanjore Palace, Sangeetha Mahal, etc. Additionally, a part of the fort complex is the Shiva Ganga Gardens. The fort still conveys the strength and grandeur that it must have once held, despite being largely demolished.

Time to visit:7:00 AM - 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

4. Airavatesvara Temple

Among the many Shiva temples in Thanjavur is the Airavatesvara temple, which is situated near Darasuram. According to tradition, Lord Indra's white elephant, Airavata, came here to pray to Lord Shiva in order to lift a curse placed on him by Rishi Durvasa. Yama, the god of death, is claimed to have worshipped Shiva here as well. This temple, along with everyone else at Thanjavur, is regarded as one of the greatest Chola temples still in existence.

Timing to visit:6:00 am to 8:00 pm

5. Thanjai Mamani Koil

A Divyadesam is a collective name for the trio of Vishnu temples that make up Thanjai Mamani Koil. It is claimed that Lord Vishnu is primarily revered in this location in the form of his Narasimha avatar, which he adopted in order to defeat the devil king Hiranyakashipu and save his disciple Prahlad. Within the temple are their statues. The worshippers of Vishnu love and frequent this temple. Being one of the 108 Divyadesams, the temple attracts worshippers in a unique way and has a unique image.

Timing to visit:7 AM to 12:00 PM, 5 PM to 7:30 PM.

6. Schwartz Church

Schwartz Church, also recognized as Fort Church, is situated close to Brihadeeswarar Temple in the Thanjavur Palace garden just north of the Sivaganga Tank and was constructed by Raja Serfoji in 1779 as a tribute to his teacher, the Danish missionary FC Schwartz, who passed away in 1798. It is spread over an area of 2 km from Thanjavur Railway Station, 750 km from Old Bus Station, and 500 meters from Brihadeeswarar Temple.

Serfoji II, the Maratha ruler, contributed a stunning piece of white marble created by John Flaxman after Schwartz passed away in 1798. This may be seen at the western end of the Schwartz Church. The dying missionary blessing King Serfoji while his ministers accompany him while his ministers surround him is depicted in etching on the marble object.

Timing to visit:9:00 AM - 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

7. Thanjavur Royal Palace

Considered to be the Nayak Kings' home, it was located inside the Vijaynagara Fort complex. There are numerous locations worth seeing on the palace grounds, including the Nayak Hall, Saraswati Mahal Library, and the Durbar hall. It was the official palace of the Maratha monarchs from 1674 to 1855 and is also referred to as Maratha Palace or Nayak Palace. Around 1550 CE, Thanjavur Nayaks built a portion of it; the Marathas extended it. Huge halls, wide hallways, observation and arsenal towers, as well as a cool courtyard are among the palace's most notable features. As part of their tour of Thanjavur, history buffs must visit this palace to learn about the culture and way of life of the local kings.

A sizable quadrangular yard that is surrounded by walls and has large gateways to the north and east serves as the palace's main gate. A walkway leads to a room with numerous pillars. The Goodagopuram, sometimes referred to as Bell Tower, is an eight-story vimana-like structure with a height of 190 feet that is located on the southern side of the third quadrangle. Up until 1855 A.D. It served as both the Thanjavur Kings' armory and palace watchtower. Manimandapam, a six-story tower, is located behind the Gudigopuram. The artifacts from the Chola kingdom are kept in the Nayak Hall. The royal canopy in the durbar hall, which is thought to have been built by the Marathas, is embellished with mirror work.

Timing to visit:9 AM to 1 PM & 3 PM to 6 PM

8. Thanjavur Waterfalls

The most well-known waterfalls in Thanjavur are Agaya Gangai, Kutladampatti Waterfalls, and Kiliyur Falls. The 300-foot-high Agaya Gangai is located on the river Aiyaru and is located 141 kilometers away from Thanjavur. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department oversees the preserve forest where the Kurladampatti waterfall is located. The 89-foot waterfall is very well-liked by travelers.

Timing to visit:8 am to 6 pm

9. Thanjavur Saraswathi Mahal library

The Saraswati Mahal Library is situated inside Thanjavur Palace next to the Royal Museum, 2 km from Thanjavur Junction Railway Station and 0.5 km from Old Bus Station. One of India's most significant collections of oriental manuscripts is housed at this library.

The library, which was founded around 1700 AD, has over 44,000 manuscripts on paper and palm leaves that are written in Indian and European languages. More than 80% of its texts are in Sanskrit; many are on palm leaves, and others are extremely uncommon or even unique. Medical treatises and analyses of works from the Sangam era are among the Tamil works. The outside, interior, and ceiling of the library are all beautifully painted in color. On the upper side of the wall in front, there is a picture of Devi (Goddess) Saraswati.

Timing to visit:10:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Lunch break: 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM ( not open on Wednesdays)

10. Thirumananjeri Temple

The Thirumananjeri temple is well-known among many Tamilians for granting wishes made there and for blessing marriages. The exquisite sculptures of gods and goddesses on the temple's walls serve as another illustration of its magnificent design and architecture. One needs to return to the temple with their spouse to seek blessings when a commitment made here is accomplished. For travelers with a religious bent, this temple is a must-see!

Timing to visit:6 am to 12 pm in the morning and 3 pm to 8 pm in the evening

11. Chandra Bhagwan Temple

This temple, which is dedicated to the sacred moon god, is also significant to its followers. This temple, which is 25 miles away, is well-known among those who think that the Moon is unfavorable to them based on their star signs.

12. Swami Malai Temple

This temple, which is located in Thanjavur, is crucial to the Hindu community in southern India. This temple is one of the Arupadaiveedu, which are the six principal abodes of Murugan. Each residence symbolizes one of his six life stages. The shrine is located where Lord Murugan is thought to have taught his master intellectual truths about the cosmos. This temple was built as a memorial.

This temple, which is located in Thanjavur, is crucial to the Hindu community in southern India. This temple is one of the Arupadaiveedu, which are the six principal abodes of Murugan. Every residence symbolizes one of his six life stages. The temple is located where Lord Murugan is thought to have taught his master intellectual truths about the cosmos. This temple is a memorial to that result.

Timing to Visit: 5 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm

Thanjavur is a town of temples and is home to many stunning displays of outstanding antiquity. Thanjavur is the place to go if you want a vacation that is also a learning experience down nostalgia lane and collects some unforgettable experiences which can make you happy in your life.