Six Places to Visit in Thanjavur
In my previous blogs I have already covered most of the important landmarks in Thanjavur or Tanjore so this would be my last blog about this place where I would list down all the important places that you must visit in Thanjavur which includes the landmarks which have already been mentioned in my previous blog as well as places which you might squeeze in-between the big ones.
Places to Visit Around Thanjavur
1) Brihadeeswarar Temple
2) Thanjavur Palace
3) Manora Fort
4) Rajarajan Manimandapam
5) Christ Church – Fort (Schwartz Church)
6) Punnainallur Mariamman Temple
Brihadeeswarar Temple – Thanjavur
If you haven’t read my earlier blog then I would request you to please read that blog as it has all the details including a detailed map of the temple complex. Click here to read that blog.
Thanjavur Palace
Another important landmark in the city but not that old as the Chola temple of Brihadeeswarar but still deep-rooted in history. For this also I have a separate detailed blog which I am sure will come very handy as I had exclusively created a map which would enable you to locate all the important landmarks within this palace complex. Click here to read that blog.
Manora Fort
This place is not within the periphery of Thanjavur town but you need to travel in a hired vehicle in order to reach this spot. This place is significant with the connection between the Marathas, British and Napoleon Bonaparte. Click here to read in details about this place for which I have a separate blog.
Rajarajan Manimandapam – Thanjavur
This is not a historical site but something which was constructed in the year 1991 during 8th World Tamil Conference. This place is basically a park where children’s will surely enjoy playing around as well as a museum which is located in the basement. If you want to know more about the history of Thanjavur and the Cholas then this is the right place. Photography is allowed with a fee for which you need to buy a ticket at the entrance. The only negative thing about this museum is that it’s very poorly lit, for a museum, it’s important that all the exhibits are properly lit in order to get the best view possible. This is not a very big museum but still, has enough materials inside to keep you engaged for hours.
Christ Church – Fort (Schwartz Church) – Thanjavur
This small church is situated in the Brihadeeswarar Temple complex near to the northern gate towards Sivagangai Park. Though this church is relatively a small church but it’s steeped in history mainly due to the name Schwartz. Christian Friedrich Schwarz, a Danish missionary had come to India to preach the gospel and in 1779 constructed this church.
Christian Friedrich Schwarz was a teacher or a guru to Serfoji II and as a teacher taught him many European languages. This was instrumental in building the character of Serfoji II thus making him one of the greatest Maratha ruler of Thanjavur.
The church is actually quite small in size and inside the main highlight is the white marble tablet at the back of the church which shows Christian Friedrich Schwarz on his death bed surrounded by Serfoji II and others.
Punnainallur Mariamman Temple – Thanjavur
The history of this temple is as old at the Maratha rule of Thanjavur. This temple was built by the first Maratha king of Thanjavur Venkoji in the year 1680. He built this temple as directed by the divine intervention of the goddess Muthu Mari Amman. He was instructed in his dreams to search for her idol in the forest, as per instruction he did that and upon finding the idol of Mariamman under a Punnai tree. He then built a temple over this ground which became this famous temple. The original deity was shaped by the great saint Sadasiva Brahamendar from earth of an ant hill.
It’s around five kilometers from the main Thanjavur town center thus either you can take an auto or arrange for some transportation.
Thanjavur Dolls
Well, this is not a place but as the name suggest is a terracotta bobblehead doll which is very famous and often associated with Thanjavur. Everywhere you travel you will find shops selling these Thanjavur Dolls which come in various designs and characters. These dolls are famously used during Golu a festival popular in southern India where as a part of Navratri celebrations Thanjavur dolls are put on display creating stories of mythology by the young girls and women of the house. So if you are traveling to Thanjavur be sure to buy one which costs around Rs. 150 – 250 depending on the size and design.
Other Thanjavur Blogs
Brihadeeswarar Temple – Thanjavur
Location on Map
Click here to open the shortest route map with all the locations mentioned above.
I missed two of the above during my last visit. Hope to compensate next time.
Which two if I may ask? In fact my research tells of another site but it’s controversial the final resting place of Raja raja