Things to Do in Thanjavur

Thanjavur is most attractive for its art and architecture that stands tall amidst its busy modern times. Amble through this city that still upholds some of its ancient lineage in music, paintings, handicrafts and valuable pieces. On this guided tour of 10 hours that starts around 9 am, cover art places and meet artists involved in making the famous Tanjore and Kalamkari paintings. Discover how musical instruments such as ‘TanjoreVeena’, a four feet long beauty and ‘Nadhaswaram’ are made. Also on the tour, stop over to understand the skills behind making of traditional ‘Tanjore Dancing Dolls’, purely made from paper mache, wax, and such materials. This is topped by a visit to the historic town of Nachiarkoil, where over 200 craftsmen are engaged in the thousand-year-old art of lamp making. Duration: 10 hours 

With several Dravidian masterpieces in and around, Thanjavur’s landscape is sacred and also impressive with brightly coloured sculptures and towering gopurams. Over 10 hours of this guided tour, you will witness few of the 70-odd temples in Thanjavur. You’ll start in morning around 9am. The day’s journey will take you to Brahadeeswara Temple (Big Temple), the most outstanding and one of the oldest Siva Temples in India. Feel its might of a thousand years as you appreciate the Chola frescoes in its sanctum. Be spellbound by DarasuramTemple, yet another stunning piece of art and architecture. Follow it up by getting to know the mythological supremacy behind the gigantic Kumbeswara Temple.  Around 1pm, indulge in lunch. Also on the itinerary is the Nageswara Temple, a simple sanctum highlighting many epic mythological scenes and brilliant woodwork. Spend time observing a typical Nayak-styled temple dedicated to Lord Rama at the Ramaswamy Temple. Sense the legend of Siva coming alive after consuming poison at the Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi. Offer prayers at the Thirunageswaram Temple, while watching the wonder of milk abhishekamduring raahukalam. Last stop is the mesmerising Suriyanar Temple, dedicated to Sun God. Despite damage caused during the Tsunami, its splendour is ethereal when the sun graces its façade. Your day comes to an end here. Duration: 10 hours  

On this refreshing 5 hour tour that is available during the rainy season, saunter through agricultural farms and plantation areas in the iconic Thanjavur town. Witness the simple life, interact with the famers and get to know what goes into farming. Also enjoy planting, visit the cow farm and do a bit of fishing. Following your arrival in Thanjavur at around 9am, get introduced with the guide, who will lead the tour to the Eachankottai Village. Here onwards, visit some of the major farms within the vicinity that grows crops like paddy, pulses, gingelly, groundnut and sugarcane. The other crops that you can witness on this tour includes maize, soya bean and red gram. After visiting the farms, you can also visit the nearby Padugai Lands, which is popular for banana plantations. Within the tour, you can also visit to some of the cotton and gingelly grown in rice fallows. Explore these areas and know more about the different process of farming and also get acquainted with their tools and techniques used by the local farmers. You can also extend a helping hand to the farmers and help them in preparing the fields, planting the seeds and other such activities. On the way back, indulge in lunch. Duration: Around 5 hours

Thanjavur, also known as the ‘Rice Bowl of India’, is located on the deltaic region of the Cauvery River. While agriculture is still holds a prominent place in the economy of this historical town, a visit to its countryside reveals much more. Within 5 hours of the village tour, you will get acquainted with the different aspects of Thanjavur and witness its rustic charm. Assembling anywhere in Thanjavur at around 9:00am, embark on this mystique tour in the company of an expert guide. Moving around 13km from the town area, visit a Vedic village called Agraharam. Located in Thillaisthanam, this eco-friendly settlement is run and administered by a non-profit organisation. Comprising of Veda patashalas (Veda learning centre), yagnashalas and goshalas (cowsheds), it is taken care of by highly qualified members from different educational backgrounds. A short walk from Thillaisthanam will take you to a small hamlet near Thiruvaiyaru, where you can visit the Marabu Foundation, an organisation that promotes peace and harmony through literature and fine arts. Interact with the women in the organisation and get familiar to some of the forgotten traditions and cultures of Tamil Nadu. Hereafter, walk towards the Dalit Village of Thanjavur and get introduced to one of the most primitive ethnic groups in India. Interact with the villagers, witness their daily lives and also extend your help in accomplishing some of their basic activities. Post this, visit Kaduveli, where you can witness people from different ethnic groups living together with utmost harmony and brotherhood. Enjoy pleasant times with the villagers and enjoy a break with the villagers; with this the tea break, this memorable tour will come to an end. Duration: Around 5 hours

Unfold the charms of Punnainallur, a rustic settlement located 6km east of Thanjavur that can be easily reached by the Thanjavur–Nagapattinam Highway. Home to the renowned Punnainallur Mariamman and some of the other historic temples, the 5 hour tour of this village will get you acquainted with its distinct life and culture. With your arrival in Thanjavur at around 9am, head towards the Punnainallur Village in the company of an experienced guide. Meander through the rustic terrains, explore the balmy charm of the countryside, witness life in the village side and get to know the rural essence of Thanjavur. Post this, visit some of the ancient temples like Punnainallur Mariamman, Kathaiamman and several others, and get close to the religious faiths and beliefs of the local people. Make it to their homes, and witness their daily lives amidst the lush and enchanting countryside. While on this tour, you can easily spot the villagers engrossed in dairy farming, pot making, bronze work, cut glass work and traditional doll making.You can also take part in pot making. Villagers in Punnainallur are also much experienced and renowned for crafting ‘Veena’, a type of musical instrument. In case you are visiting this village during the festive seasons, you can also witness the colourful celebrations like Mariamman Kovil Thiruvizha and some others. Folk music, artists, dance performance and merriment are the main elements of this festival, and it is attended with full joy and cheerfulness. Duration: Around 5 hours

Thanjavur is an epitome of heritage and culture in South India. Having set the trend for several similar civilizations existing during its heydays, even today it is a major attraction. Boasting of some of the best museums in the country, this one-day journey helps weave Thanjavur’s story. Your guided tour of 10 hours starts around 9am and will cover some of the richest places in the city. First stop the Art Gallery. Visit it for its great collection of old sculpture and skeleton of a huge whale swept shore years ago. Time at the Royal Museum will uncover Tanjore paintings, masterpieces in bronze, and other sculptures. Get addicted at the oldest library in Asia, Saraswathi Mahal Museum with its variety of palm-leaf manuscripts, Chinese prints, books and paintings. Your final destination en route the tour is South Zone Cultural Centre, a central government initiative to preserve heritage work. Duration: 10 hours 

A Thanjavur visit cannot be limited as a pilgrimage destination. This place offers some brilliant pieces of art and architecture from a bygone era that has stood the perils of time. Towers, sculptures, woodwork, frescos, and every other detail remain near close to original even today. At the end of this daylong trip that takes you across a few temples, you’ll be left behind with a blend of amazement, knowledge, and appreciation. Your guided tour of around 10 hours begins around 9am. No temple tour in Thanjavur is complete without a visit to the Brahadeeswara Temple. Be astonished at the sight of this 1,000-year-old piece of heritage marvel.  Visit the Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, for its deity is believed to stun you with her power. The grand temple of Panchanadeeswarar will surprise you with its design-engineering marvel of producing echoes in certain areas. Take a break and refresh with lunch around 1pm. Allow the Thittai Guru Temple to lure you with its unique feature of a drop of water falling on the Siva Linga every 24 minutes from the ceiling. Also visit couple of the oldest temples in the region Maamani Templeand Nisimbasuthani Temple. Duration: 10 hours

On this historical tour of Thanjavur, chance upon Maratha architecture which further added to the city’s magnificence.  Your guided tour of 10 hours starts around 9 am and will take you to Chandramouleeswara Temple situated atop Hariharan Kundram.Now in ruins, this temple was a prominent sanctum in its glory days. Offer prayers at the Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, constructed by the Maratha ruler, Venkoji Maharaja Chatrapati. Rediscover the charm of ornate wonders of the Orathanadu and Kalyan Mahal Chatrams that once provided boarding, food, and health facilities for travellers and their animals. Understand origins of Tanjore paintings during the Maratha regime. Visit Thanjavur plate making workshops, an art form that originated and flourished from the Maratha times. Also stop by at the Thanjavur Maratha Palace and revel in its glorious complex consisting of the queen’s courtyard and Durbar Hall. Duration: 10 hours 

On this day trip, which introduces the local flavour and fervour of Thanjavur, you’ll witness why this region is a fascination amongst varied people.  Unfold its rich heritage art and architectural marvels, signs of literature and music, legacy of exquisite handicrafts and a lot more. Brace yourself to an entire day of soaking in the local life and history of Thanjavur. Your guided tour of around 10 hours starts around 9am and stretches across the dominating symbol of Chola Empire, the Brahadeeswara Temple now protected as a heritage site under UNESCO. Understand its glorious past and observe its present day status. Visit one of the oldest libraries in Asia, Saraswathi Mahal Library with a collection of ancient palm-leaf and paper manuscripts and sketches. Stop by at Rajagopalasami Canon, a less visited object of heritage value at the Thanjavur Fort. Spend time at the South Zone Cultural Centre that preserves and promotes traditional cultural heritage. Explore artist workshops and homes specialising in Tanjore Paintings to witness the evergreen style taking shape on hundreds of canvas. Duration: 10 hours

A favoured capital of the Cholas, the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, a treasure trove of art, craftsmanship and architecture – Thanjavur has portrayed various roles in history across its rulers. One such period belonged to the Nayaks, who were responsible for some eye-catching pieces of architecture that stand tall even today. They also propelled handicrafts and art during their times. On this guided tour of ten hours, you’ll visit a few temples with excellent representations of Lord Brahma, monumental sites, and get briefed on Nayak style of painting and the famous Thanjavur Pith Work handicraft. Around 9am, you’ll start your trip by visiting Brahadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur’s most iconic representation. A 10th century monument, its an excellent example of Dravidian architecture. Over here you’ll find Lord Brahma as a subsidiary deity along the sanctum periphery. Move on to Kandeeswarar Temple to understand a tale of destruction from the Hindu mythology. Next steps will take you to Papanasamor a town called Destruction of Sins that hosts the Ramasamy or Vishnu Temple. You’ll be taken aback by the story that envelops around the temple’s origin. Last stop on the religious leg of the trip moves to Mahamaham Tank, in the heart of Kumbakonam. Refresh yourself with a dip in this holy pond. The art angle of the trip comes as interactions with artisans involved in the world famous Tanjore paintings. Also visit workshops creating the traditional art form Shola Pith Work. Duration: 10 hours