Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple

Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple: Thanjavur is "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu" and a great pilgrim destination of South India. It was the capital of Chola kings who ruled the region during 9th to 13th centuries. Thanjavur is a flourishing centre for bronze sculpture and painting.

Among the many temples they built, the most important one is Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple, built by Rajaraja Cholan, the Great Chola king. The temple, dedicated to Nandi, the Bull is a masterpiece of the captivating Chola architecture. The mount of Lord Shiva i.e. Nandi has been made from a single granite rock.

Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple is an example for the Architectural Masterpiece of Chola Rule in South India, and is unique to have the tallest tower (216 ft) over the sanctum sanctorum unlike the other temples.

The Temple, made over a 29 m square base, is surrounded by moat on two sides and Grand Anaicut river on the other side. The compound within its inner wall measures about 500 feet x 250 feet. The walls of the sanctum are adorned with the wall paintings of Chola and Nayak periods. Photo courtesy: badrri

The temple and has a soaring vimana and a stunted gopuram. The inner sanctum and the gopuram were constructed over a period of 12 years. It was constructed from a single piece of granite weighing around 80 tonnes.

Among the many other temples built by the Chola Kings, the temple at Gangaikondacholapuram is also very famous.

Bragatheeswarar Temple,also known as Rajarajesvaram Temple, is the landmark of Thanjavur.

Bragatheeswarar Temple is a great tourist destination. It is one of the few great Indian monuments listed in UNESCO's World Heritage list of historical sites and monuments..

Festival:

The day of the Ruling star, satabhishag is treated as a festival day every month as it symbolizes the ruling star at the time of birth of Rajaraja.

The annual festival is held for 9 days in the month of Visaka or May according to the English calender. The deity is bathed with the water soaked with the fragrant Champaka flower.

Other Attractions

Palace Building The Palace, situated near the temple, is a cluster of fabulous buildings built partly by Nayaks and partly by Marathas. The two towers - Kudagaparam and the Madamaligai are visible from all parts of the city.

Art Gallery is housed in the Palace Building. The gallery has many bronze idols and works of art of the Chola period.

The Saraswathi Mahal Library Also located in the Palace, the Library is renowned for its compilation of manuscripts on paper and palm leaves in several Indian and European languages.

Sangitha Mahal This monument was built by Raja Sarfoji. It is also called as the Mansion of Music, and a fine auditorium.

Many other temples like Thiruvaiyaru (13 kms away), Thirukandiyur (10 kms away), Karundhittangadi Temple (2 kms away), Kalyanapuram (8 kms away), Pullaimangal (16 kms away), Poovanoor (38 kms away), Kuthanur (20 kms away), Thiruppugalur (30 kms away), Thirukannamangai (35 kms away), Thiruvarur (55 kms away) and Manora (65 kms away).

Accommodation

Excellent lodges are there. Also Rest Houses provided by the Tourism Department.

By Air: The nearest airport is situated at Trichy, 65-km from Thanjavur.

By Rail: The nearest railway station at Thanjavur, is well connected with Trichy, Chennai, and Madurai.

By Road: Thanjavur is well connected by road with all the major towns and cities in Tamil Nadu and also with Kochi, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Bangalore in Karnataka

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