Tamil Nadu · South
ThanjavurTañjāvūr
Former Chola capital, home to the UNESCO-listed Brihadeeswarar (Big) Temple
Photo: Rainer Halama (derivative work: UnpetitproleX) · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Principal temple
- Brihadeeswarar Temple (Rajarajesvaram, Thanjai Periya Kovil)Shiva as Peruvudaiyar (Brihadisvara), in linga form
- Best time to visit
- November to February (described as pleasant, with warm days and cool nights)
- Nearest airport
- Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ), about 55–61 km (figures vary by source)
- Nearest railway station
- Thanjavur Junction (TJ), in the city
- Tradition
- Śaiva · Śākta
Overview
Thanjavur, a city in the Kaveri (Cauvery) delta of Tamil Nadu, first rose to prominence as the capital of the Chola empire and is an important centre of South Indian religion, art and architecture. Its Brihadeeswarar Temple, dedicated to Shiva and built by the Chola king Rajaraja I in the early 11th century, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Great Living Chola Temples. The city is also known for Tanjore painting, and is where Carnatic music was codified and major styles of Bharatanatyam developed.
See sources [1–7]- Shiva as Peruvudaiyar (Brihadisvara), in linga form
- Mariamman (goddess)
