Thanjavur, the former capital of the Chola dynasty, is home to the Brihadeeswara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest achievements of Chola architecture, its towering vimana (temple tower) among the tallest in India built entirely from granite. The city is also renowned for Thanjavur painting, a distinctive art form using gold leaf and semi-precious stones, and for classical Carnatic music, having served as a significant centre of both artistic traditions for centuries.
Beyond the Brihadeeswara Temple, the Thanjavur Maratha Palace and its associated art gallery add further heritage depth, and the city's continued role as a living centre of classical South Indian art and music gives it significance extending well beyond its status as a heritage tourism destination.
Thanjavur served as the capital of the Chola Empire at its height under rulers like Rajaraja I, who commissioned the Brihadeeswara Temple in the early 11th century, and the city later continued as a significant cultural centre under subsequent Nayak and Maratha rule.
October to March.
About 55km from Tiruchirappalli, roughly 1.5 hours by road.
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