TOURIST PLACES IN THANJAVUR

Thanjavur Royal Palace

                     

Thanjavur Royal Palace is one of the most popular attractions of Thanjavur. Thanjavur Royal Palace, situated within the Vijaynagara Fort complex, was the residence of the Nayak Kings of Thanjavur. The royal palace, built in 16th century, later became the seat of the Maratha rulers of Thanjavur in the 17th century.

Thanjavur Royal Palace offers Nayak Hall, Durbar Hall, Serfoji’s Saraswati Mahal Library and the arsenal tower for the tourists.

Nayak Hall, built by the Nayaks, house Thanjavur Art Gallery, where various Thanjavur artefacts belonging to the period of Cholas are displayed. Durbar Hall, built by the Marathas, displays a throne canopy decorated in Thanjavur styled mirror-glass works. Serfoji's Saraswati Mahal Library, situated adjacent to the Nayak Hall, houses a rare collection of Sanskrit books and palm-leaf manuscripts.

The palace also offers clear view of the Vijaynagara Fort complex and the Gopuram and the Vimana of the Brihadeshwar temple from the top of the arsenal tower, the erstwhile Palace watch tower and the arsenal of the Thanjavur Kings till 1855.

Nandi Bull

 

                   

The Nandi has always had an important place in Hindu mythology. Here, one can see a massive idol of this divine bull. The Nandi (the divine vehicle of Lord Shiva) is a monolith measuring 12 feet in height, 19.5 feet in length and 18.25 feet in width, and weighing about 25 tons.

Some believe that the stone came from a bed of gneiss at the foot of the Pachaimalai hills near Perambulur. Another version is that the stone was brought over from the bed of the River Narmada in the north.

It is seated in an ornately sculpted mandapam called the Nayak Mandapam. According to legend, the Nandi was growing in size and people fearing that it might grow out of the mandapam, stuck a nail at its back to stunt the growth. Since then, it has remained stationary. On the ceiling of the Nandi Mantapam, are colourful frescos that are over 1000 years old and still maintain their magnificence. Two portraits statuesque on the front pillars of the Nandi Mandapam are pointed out as those of Sevappanayakan (the first Nayak ruler) and of his son Achyutappa Nayak.

Grand Anicut

      (KALLANAI)                Grand Anicut is one of the prime destinations of the tourists visiting Thanjavur. Situated nearby Trichy, the Grand Anicut or the Kallanai is one of the heritage sites of Tamil Nadu which is still in use.

Grand Anicut was built by the Chola King Karikalan around 1st Century AD on the Cauvery River at the beginning of Cauvery delta. The 329 m long and 20 m wide Grand Anicut is considered among the oldest dams of the world.