things to do in Tanjore

If I had a time machine I would go back a 1000 years for the Chola period, to see how they built the Brihadeshwara temple – Happy Girl 

The ancient temple town, Thanjavur is also known as Tanjore is Home to one of the most stunning great living Chola temples. The city gets its name from the demon Tanjan who was killed by Sri Anandavalli Amman and Sri Neelamega Perumal.

Popularly known for its temples that welcomes tourists and worshippers from all over,  has a lot to offer to history enthusiasts to art lovers and the city is also known for its unique paintings, artwork, and architecture which is a real treat! 

Tip – We highly recommend exploring these monuments with Pinakin Audio App – http://pinakinapp.com/. This app will give you information about the place, history, ticket prices, parking details, dress code, etc. Please download these apps and content prior to exploring the monument as you can use the content offline.

To help you explore here is our list of things to do in Tanjore.

Boy carrying flowers to Tanjore Temple,

Vijayanagar fort n Tanjore

Just a few km from the Brihadeshwara temple is the famous Vijayanagar fort that was built in 1550, after the victory of the Raya clan over the Hoysala clan. Unfortunately, parts of this fort are now in ruins but the parts that stand tall still manage to attract your attention and a large number of visitors too!

The fort consists of the Thanjavur Palace, Sangeetha Mahal, a library, and an art gallery that have some stunning paintings and sculptures which are worth a visit and cannot be missed.

The marvelous architecture of this fort that is adorned with carvings and inscriptions will surely have you in awe but the highlight is the history of this place! 

VISITING HOURS: 09:00 to 17:00 hours 

ESTIMATED TIME: 1 – 2 hours

COST: Free

Brihadeshwara Temple

Located on the banks of Kaveri, this ancient temple was built from granite by Raja Chola in 1010AD and is one of the largest temples in South India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known as the great living Chola temple, as it is still used as a place of worship

The tall and glorious majestic sanctum, paintings, shrine, and sculptures of the bulls leave you in awe. If you are a history enthusiast you might just spend more time here than expected, because of the captivating architecture. 

VISITING HOURS: 09:30 to 18:00 hours 

ESTIMATED TIME: 2 – 3 hours

COST: Free

Stunning architecture of the Gorampura of the Brihadeshwara Temple (Photo Credit – Varun Shiv Kapur)

Schwartz Church

Schwartz is one of the oldest churches in Tamil Nadu that was built by the Maratha ruler, Serfoji II in the 17th century to show his gratitude towards the Danish missionary Reverend Friedrich Christian Schwartz who was his mentor. The church is decorated with stunning white marble sculptures, tablets, and marvellous neoclassical architecture that has a bit of French and Thanjavur influence.

The church also consists of carvings that tell us about the death of Schwartz as he gives his final blessing to the king. Painted in white the church is not only a place of worship but also a place to gain knowledge and stands as a symbol of peace, unity and open-mindedness of the ruler. 

VISITING HOURS: 09:00 to 17:00 hours 

ESTIMATED TIME: 1 – 2 hours

COST: Free

Thanjavur Maratha Palace

Built by the Nayaks, the palace is now home to the Bhonsle family who ruled over Tanjore in the 16th century. This palace was known as the Sivaganga Fort and later when the Maratha’s ruled and added to its beauty it came to be known as the Thanjavur Maratha Palace. The colourful interiors, gorgeous paintings, and stunning architecture will leave you wandering around this temple for longer than you expected.

The palace is divided into 7 sections and consists of the Sardar Mahal Palace, the queen’s courtyard, a small bell tower and a library with a fascinating collection of Chola bronzes, however the most mesmerising of them all is the colourful Darbar that will charm you with its colourful pillars, ceilings, and paintings!

VISITING HOURS: 09:30 to 18:00 hours 

ESTIMATED TIME: 2 – 3 hours

COST: Free

Read on: Understanding Travel Costs in India

Details inside the Thanjavur Maratha Palace (Photo Credit – Simian Wolverine)

Hope our recommendations help you enjoy exploring Tanjore and if you need any assistance, simply get in touch with us. We will help plan your dream trip to this vast subcontinent. 

A trip that will be the perfect blend of all your varied interests and will cater to all your essential requirements. South India is brimming with places you ought to uncover and a never ending list of things to do.

Read on: Explore the Abundance of Things to Do in India