Our home base
Thanjavur (Tanjore)
The Chola capital, home of the Brihadeeswarar Temple, and the town we set out from every morning.
Thanjavur is where the Chola empire kept its court, and the town still reads that way — a granite temple at the centre that has been in continuous worship for over a thousand years, a Maratha palace beside it, and a library of palm-leaf manuscripts behind that. For most visitors the Brihadeeswarar Temple is the reason to come and the rest is the reward for staying a full day.
It is also the practical base for the region. Kumbakonam and the Navagraha circuit are north-east, Pudukkottai is south, Chidambaram is up the coast road, and Tiruchirappalli airport is a little under an hour away. Almost every tour we run begins and ends here, which is why our pickups are from your Thanjavur hotel rather than from a meeting point you have to find.
What to see in Thanjavur
Brihadeeswarar Temple
Built by Rajaraja Chola I and completed in 1010 CE. The vimana above the sanctum is one of the tallest of any Hindu temple, and the whole structure is granite in a district that has none — every block was brought in. Inscribed by UNESCO as one of the Great Living Chola Temples.
Thanjavur Maratha Palace
The Nayak and later Maratha seat, a short walk from the temple. The Durbar Hall and the bell tower are the parts most people remember.
Saraswathi Mahal Library
Inside the palace complex, and one of the oldest libraries in Asia still holding its original collection of palm-leaf and paper manuscripts.
Thanjavur painting
The gold-leaf and gemstone style that takes its name from the town. Still made here, and workshops are easy to visit.
Questions people ask
How many days do you need in Thanjavur?
One full day covers the Brihadeeswarar Temple, the palace and the library at an unhurried pace — that is what our one-day heritage tour is built around. Two days lets you add Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the other two Great Living Chola Temples.
Is Thanjavur a good base for the Navagraha temples?
Yes, and it is the base we use. The nine temples are clustered around Kumbakonam, roughly 40 km away, and the full circuit is a long single day out and back from Thanjavur.
What is the nearest airport to Thanjavur?
Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ), about 60 km away. We run a fixed-fare transfer from there with flight tracking and 60 minutes of free waiting after you land.