Thanjavur formerly called as Tanjore, it is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city has land area of 128.02 sq km. with the elevation of 289 ft. and is an administrative headquarters of the Thanjavur district, & also an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. The most UNESCO World Heritage Monuments of the state are located in and around Thanjavur and the best example is Chola temples.
In the city’s economy, major contribution is done by tourism & service-oriented hospitality but the traditional occupation is agriculture which mainly comprises rice. Thanjavur is an important pilgrim centre for Hindus and the government has taken several initiatives to develop the city in a way that it depicts and protects the cultural heritage of India. The city is also one of the important centers for “Silk Weaving” and home to “Tanjore paintings’’.
When to visit?
Tamil Nadu in general doesn’t have a cold winter, so the weather except summers doesn’t make much difference to visitors. But preferably, months of December to February are considered are the best time to go explore. The temperature ranges between 20°C – 29°C, optimum for sight-seeing and during this time period you can also enjoy 2 major dance & music festivals of the state; The Natyanjali Dance Festival (February – March) and The Carnatic Classical Musical Festival (December – January), here many artists in and around Tanjore show their talents by performing natya, rhythm, mudras and rasa and pays tribute to Lord Natraja (the lord of dance).
Tourist Attractions:
- Chola Temples/ Brihadeeswara Temple
- Royal Palace Museum
- Sivaganga Park
- Thanjavur Palace
- Punnainallur Sree Maha Mariamman
- Rev. Schwartz Memorial & Church
- Maratha Palace
- Saraswathi Mahal Library
How to reach?
By Road:
The National Highways 136 & 67 connects Thanjore with Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Karur, Tirupur, Vellore, Ariyalur, Mysuru, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Karaikal, Mannargudi and almost every possible city of the state. Thanjavur bus terminus has well-maintained to and fro of private & state buses from all over the cities and villages of Tamil Nadu and roadways are the major form of transportation in the mega polis.
By Railways:
The nearest railway station is Trichy Junction, connecting Chennai, Egmore via Thanjore. The station entertains daily trains to almost every part of South India & Goa, Katni, Allahabad, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ayodhya, and Bhubaneswar. The Thanjore city is situated at the distance of 57kms from railway station and for local transit, the best available is buses and taxis.
By Airways:
The nearest airport is Trichy international airport located at the distance of 55kms and it has active passengers from almost every major city of the country and internationally; Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Sharjah and more. The cheapest domestic flight to Tiruchirappalli will costs around Rs. 2000 to 4000 per head. From airport you can take a private or sharing taxi to roam locally and bus for inter city transportation.