Thanjavur, also called Tanjore is known for the Big Temple – Brihadeeswara Temple. The area is called the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. Below are links to the individual blog posts with pictures and details of my visit to Thanjavur (தஞ்சாவூர்).
The train journey from Chennai
We travelled from Chennai to Thanjavur by Rock Fort Express night train (detailed blog) leaving Chennai Egmore at 22:30 on 31st January 2012 and reaching Thanjavur the next day morning around 6:30 AM.
Chennai to Thanjavur by Rock Fort Express
Thanjavur Palace
On the first day of our visit to Tanjore after morning breakfast, we went to Thanjavur Palace (detailed blog). It was good we had over half a day to spend in the palace visit, for you to appreciate the artefacts and history you need to go around without rush. And for us taking photographs took quite a bit of time as well.
The view of the tall tower inside Tanjore Palace
Serfoji’s Memorial Hall Museum
Inside the Tanjore Palace apart from the main Art Museum, you can see a few other places of interest (detailed blog). There is Saraswathi Mahal Library, Serfoji’s Memorial Hall Museum, Mahratta Dharbar Hall & Royal Museum. Each of these is maintained by different parties – ASI / Tamil Nadu Government, The Descendants of Serfoji and so you need to buy half-a-dozen tickets.
Private collection – Serfoji’s Memorial Hall Museum
Tanjore Big Temple – Brihadisvara Temple
This is a living temple with poojas being offered daily for the last thousand years. We went to the temple in the evening a few hours before sunset and could get some lovely photos (detailed blog) taken.
Thanjavur Big Temple
Tanjore visit in 2016
In 2016, I again visited Tanjore and wrote about my visit to The Big Temple and Tanjore Palace here.
Thanjavur doll is a type of traditional Indian bobblehead