The Granary of South India Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas Nayaks and the Mahrattas in the ancient
India.Thanjavur or Tanjore reached the acme of art and culture and development during the rule of the Chola king Rajaraja Cholan.Even today Thanjavur is remains to be the center of all the classical arts and music.This city has produced many classical musicians and bharathanatyam dancers and is also well known for its unique painting style called Tanjore Painting.

Thanjavur boasts of numerous beautiful temples and the Big Temple of Thanjavur stands tall with its beaming tower.It is one of the architectural marvels of the world.Known for its exquisite handicrafts bronzes and south Indian Musical Instruments Thanjavur is also famous for its distinctive art style and world famous weaving silk sarees.

History :-

A brief introduction to the Later Cholas or the Thanjavur Cholas.Rajaraja Cholan the Great occupies the foremost place in the history of the later Cholas.Vijayalaya Chola was the founder of the later Chola dynasty.He conquered the country from a vassal chief of the pallavas and established Thanjavur as the capital of the dynasty.His son and successor Aditya I conquered the pallavas and the Kongu country and his son Parantakan I under his leadership the cholas acquired a dominion which foreshadowed the greater empire Rajarajan and Kulotungan.

Tourist Attractions :-

1.Tiruvarur :-

55 Kms away from Thanjavur.The Thyagarajaswami Temple is famous for the largest temple chariot in Tamil Nadu.This vast temple houses Thyagaraja Kamalamba and Vanmikanathar and has been sung by the Saiva Saints.The pillars and the halls here are of great beauty.Rajaraja Cholan was an ardent devotee of Thyagarajaswami.This temple is also referred to as a Prithvi Earth Sthalam.Thiruvarur is also the birth place of saint Thyagaraja.

2.Vaitheeswaran Kovil :-

Vaitheeswaran Thaiyal Nayaki Muthukumaraswamy Shiva Parvathi Subramanya Swamy An ancient temple dedicated to Shiva - as Vaitheeswaran literally meaning the divine provider of cures.Adorned with imposing towers Mandapams and pillars this well visited shrine has been sung by the Saivite Saint Poets.It is of said that Angarakan - Mars Kartikeya Jatayu and the Rig Veda worshipped Shiva here.This shrine is also referred to as an Angarakasthalam.

How To Reach :-

1.By Air :-

The nearest airport is at Tiruchi.Thanjavur is 65 km east of Tiruchi.Madurai is the nest closest aiport.It is about 200 Kms by road.Thanjavur is around 350 Kms south of Chennai by road.

2.By Train :-

Thanjavur also has a railway junction which is well connected with Tiruchi Chennai and Nagore.

3.By Road :-

Thanjavur is well connected with all the major towns in Tamil Nadu by road.The city is also connected with Kochi Ernakulam Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Bangalore in Karnataka.