Thanjavur

Site of "the big temple"

The chief attraction of Thanjavur is the extraordinary Brihadishwara Temple. Built in 1010 by the Chola dynasty whose empire covered much of Southern India for more than 400 years, the temple is now a World Heritage monument.

The immense main temple is more than 60 metes high and hewn from a single piece of granite estimated to weigh 80 tonnes. This temple is an astonishing sight and a visit is one of the highlights of a trip to South India.

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Special Places to Stay in Thanjavur

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Ideal River View Resort ($$)

A charming small hotel, Ideal River View Resort is located in a secluded spot along the banks of a river about 3 km from Thanjavur.

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Things to see and do in Thanjavur

Also known as Tanjore, the town is a main commercial centre for the surrounding Kaveri delta, which nevertheless retains the feel of a rural market town.

There are some superb monuments in Thanjavur, most notably the Brihadeshwara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the most imposing Chola monument in all of Tamil Nadu and contains a superb bronze collection. The temple dominates the skyline of the town, with a 13 storey tower and colonnaded walkways around a central courtyard.

Graceful bronzes are housed in the 17th century Nayak Royal Palace and are an astonishing display of South Indian mediaeval metallurgical skills at their height. Nearby, the Bell Tower is worth the climb for the views right across Thanjavur and over the palace itself.

The Saraswathi Mahal Library contains over 30,000 Indian and European manuscripts written on palm leaf and paper.

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