Tamil Nadu · India
Thanjavur
The rice-bowl temple city of the Cholas — home to the towering Brihadeeswarar temple, a Maratha palace, Tanjore paintings and classical Carnatic music.
Thanjavur (Tanjore) is Chola heartland: granite temple towers, gold-leaf Tanjore paintings, bronze icons, filter coffee and deep-rooted Carnatic and Bharatanatyam traditions.
Plan your trip
Thanjavur Tour Itineraries
Timed, walkable day plans — plus the best season to go.
Where to shoot
Thanjavur Photo Spots
High crowdEntry Free
Brihadeeswarar Temple
- Best timeEarly morning for a quiet courtyard and cooler stone; the hour before sunset, when the granite tower turns warm gold.
- ColorsSilk redMustardWhite
Low crowdEntry Nominal
Saraswathi Mahal Library
- Best timeLate morning, when the sun lights up the palace courtyard outside the library and the halls are quiet.
- ColorsCreamMaroonTeal
Low crowdEntry Free
Schwartz Church
- Best timeMorning, when soft light falls on the white front of the church and the grounds are quiet.
- ColorsWhitePastelNavy
Entry Nominal
Thanjavur Art Gallery
- Best timeMidday, when it is too hot outside and the indoor halls are quiet, if photos are allowed that day.
- ColorsBronzeCreamDeep green
Medium crowdEntry Nominal
Thanjavur Maratha Palace
- Best timeLate morning, when light comes into the courtyards and the painted durbar hall is bright and quiet.
- ColorsEmeraldGoldCream
For the feed
Trending Wear in Thanjavur
Modern, Instagram-friendly looks
Rooted in the city
Thanjavur Traditional Wear
Local, cultural, handcrafted outfits
Before you go
Temples in Thanjavur
Darshan hours, dress codes and what gets refused at the gate
Taste the city
Food to Eat in Thanjavur
Trusted tables
Where to Eat in Thanjavur
About Thanjavur
Thanjavur, often still called Tanjore, sits in the flat, rice-growing delta of the Kaveri river in central Tamil Nadu. It was the capital of the Chola kings, and their greatest work still rises over the town: the Brihadeeswarar Temple, finished around 1010 CE under Raja Raja Chola I and now part of the UNESCO-listed Great Living Chola Temples. Later rulers, first the Nayaks and then the Marathas, left the palace complex in the old town, with its art gallery of Chola bronzes and the Saraswathi Mahal Library of palm-leaf manuscripts.
The main sights are close together, so Thanjavur is easy to see in a day or two. Visit the Big Temple early in the morning and again at sunset, spend the hot middle of the day inside the palace galleries, and stop at Schwartz Church near Sivaganga Park. The town is also known for Tanjore paintings with gold leaf, bronze casting and the bobble-headed Thanjavur dolls, and for its long links with Carnatic music. Between sights, keep up your energy with filter coffee, ven pongal and a banana-leaf Tamil meal.
Questions
Thanjavur — FAQ
What is Thanjavur famous for?
Thanjavur is famous for the Brihadeeswarar Temple, the 11th-century Chola "Big Temple", and for the Maratha palace with its Chola bronzes and the Saraswathi Mahal Library. It is also known for Tanjore paintings, Thanjavur dolls, bronze craft and its place in Carnatic music.
How many days are enough for Thanjavur?
1–2 days covers the Big Temple, the palace complex, the Saraswathi Mahal Library and Schwartz Church. Add a day for the Chola temples at Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram, or for Thiruvaiyaru.
What is the best time to visit Thanjavur?
December to February is the most comfortable time, with warm, dry days and cooler evenings. April to June is very hot, and October to early December brings the northeast monsoon rains. See the best time to visit Thanjavur for a month-by-month guide.
How do I reach Thanjavur?
The nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), about 55 km away by road. Thanjavur Junction has trains from Chennai and other cities in Tamil Nadu, and the town is well connected by bus to Trichy, Kumbakonam, Madurai and Chennai.
What is Tanjore painting?
Tanjore painting is a traditional style of painting from Thanjavur, usually showing Hindu gods in bright colours, with raised details covered in gold leaf and sometimes set with glass stones. You can see older examples in the palace and buy new ones from art shops in town.