 About a thousand years ago,
Thanjavur was the
capital of the powerful Chola dynasty. Today, it is the little town
set amidst the lush green rice fields of the Cauvery delta.
Magnificent temples, still bear witness to the splendour of Chola
architecture.
Thanjavur's crowning glory is its Brihadeeshwara temple with
its 66.5 m high'srivimana' dominating the city. The monolithic
granite block that forms a cupola on the top, weighs 81.3 tonnes,
reflecting the architectural prowess of the Chola
builders.
Thanjavur is an established centre of learning and its
Saraswati Mahal Library instituted by the Maratha ruler Serfoji, has
an extensive collection of over 30,000 manuscripts, palm leaf
inscriptions and books.
In
January, the Thiruvaiyaru Music Festival is held in honour of the
composer and saint Thyagaraja. It attracts eminent musicians
and connoisseurs of Carnatic music.
AROUND
THANJAVUR
- Velankanni (90 km) noted for the church
dedicated to "Our Lady of Health', attracts devotees of all
faiths.
- Tiruvarur (55 km) has the Thyagarajaswami
Temple noted for the biggest temple chariot in Tamil Nadu. It is
also the birth place of the saint Thyagaraja.
HOW TO GET THERE
By Air : The nearest airport and major
rail-head-Trichy is 58 km
away.
By Rail : Thanjavur is directly linked by rail
to Madurai, Tirupati,
Rameswaram and Chennai.
By Road : Thanjavur is
connected with all major
cities.
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