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Thanjavur (or 'Thanjai' or 'Tanjore')
is 342 km from Chennai the capital of the state Tamil Nadu, India. Thanjai
is considered to be the granary and 'rice bowl' of Tamil Nadu. It is the
district headquarters by the same name.
Thanjavur thrived as the ancient
capital of the Chola kingdom, later of Marathas and Nayaks. Thanjavur was at
the height of its glory during the Chola period between the 10th and the
14th century and became a great centre of learning and culture.
The important landmark in Thanjavur is the great Brihadeeswarar Temple also
known as the Big Temple, it was built by Raja Raja Chola - I. It is one of
the most magnificent piece of South Indian temple architecture. Established
in 1011 AD in celebration of victory of Chola kingdom that extended till
Ceylon and some parts of the Malaya archipelago. Now it is UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Even today Thanjavur is not only considered as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu
but also as a cultural head quarters. Though the Thanjavur district is
dominated by agriculture, the town is diverse in its own, Having a literacy
percentage of more that 75% and a homogenous mix of population of all
religions.
There are several state and
private buses that ply daily from Mannargudi, Pattukkottai, Kumbakonam,
Pondicherry, Thiruvarur, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchy.
The journey from Bangalore and Chennai takes about 9 hours and there are
over-night buses.
Thanjavur is also reachable by
train from other Indian cities. 'Thanjavur Junction' is the station to
alight. There are daily trains from / to Chennai, Bangalore and other major
cities.
Nearest airport is
Tiruchirappalli International Airport
(or Trichy International Airport), located 52 km away from Thanjavur. There
are direct flights from Chennai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, amongst others.
A taxi desk is in the airport lobby. Taxi are available in the airport from Tiruchirapalli to Thanjavur.
Thanjavur Quick Facts
State: Tamil Nadu
Languages: Telugu and English
STD Code: 04362
Weather: Summer 23 to 38°C and winter 21 to 30°C
Best Season: October and March
Famous For: Heritage, Tradition and Religious |
