Thanjavur Travel Guide

Thanjavur was the ancient capital of the cholas (985-1014) whose origins go back to the beginning of the Christian era. It reflects exclusive Chola culture in its temples, its architecture and art. The Chola kings were great patrons of art and lavished their wealth on the same. They also encouraged the belief in the divine rights of kings and so this side of architecture along with the ‘blue skinned’ gods (Vishnu) is replaced by white skin throughout, the blue skin reflecting the kings themselves. A vaishnavite culture, lord Krishna (Vishnu) is the most popularly worshipped. They built most of Thanjavur’s 93 temples.

Visiting Thanjavur  is something like visiting a live museum. Every road and corner breathes history and heritage. Culture is in the air in his town, which is also known for its green pastures and lush paddy fields. The rulers of Thanjavur, the Cholas, Nayakas and Sarfojis, have ever to be thanked for their monumental contribution to the culture of India. Temples, idols, paintings, art works, Thanjavur  is  like Rome  in Europe  or Egypt  in Africa. It has received international recognition and notice for its rare monuments. UNESCO has declared the awesome Brihadeeswara temple, a world heritage monument.

Places of attraction

Thanjavur Palace and Museum: Just 1 km from the Brihadeeswarar Temple is a magnificent palace surrounded by huge fort magnificent palace surrounded by huge fort walls. Dating back to the 14th century AD it was built partly by the Nayakas and partly by the Marathas. The Maratha royal family resides in this palace. The royal family’s sacred

“Chandramauleeshwar Temple” lies within the palace walls. Endless corridors strategic observatories and arsenals beautiful shady courtyards are the most dominant features of the Palace. Partly constructed by the Nayaks and partly by the Marathas in 1550 AD the blend of cultures is exotic collection of regal memorabilia most of it dating from the early 19th century when Serfoji II ruled. The Museum has a superb collection of Chola bronze statues from the 9th to 12th centuries. The Saraswati Mahal Library is between the gallery and the palace museum.

Rajaraja Chola Art Gallery : Some of the finest sculptures in bronze and stone dating back to the 9th century are on display here. The attraction however is the collection of over 30,000 Indian and European manuscripts written on palm leaf and papers preserved  in the Saraswati Mahal.

Sangeet Mahal: Sangeet (music) receives the ultimate tribute with the most amazing acoustics in this marvellous music hall.

Brihadeeswara Temple and Fort: A true legacy of the Chola dynasty the Brihadeeswara Temple was built by Raja in 1010 and is one of truest gems of India. This temple is the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture. The dome which is 63 mts. high is said to have been constructed from a single piece of granite weighing around 81 tones. The dome was hauled into place along a 6.5 kms ramp (similar to the one used  for the construction of Egyptian  pyramids). The temple set in a spacious ground has several pillared halls and shrines and 250 Linga enshrined along the outer walls. The entrance is through two gateways.
This superb and fascinating monument is one of only a handful in India with World Heritage listing and is worth a couple of visits. It continues  to be worshipped now for over a 1000 years.The temple now comes under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological  Survey  but worship here has recommenced .The Archaeological  Museum  on the southern side of the courtyard  has some interesting  sculptures  and photographs  that show the temple before restoration.