Thanjavur or Tanjore Situated in the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur was the capital of the Chola dynasity. Thanjavur District is the ricebowl of Tamil Nadu. Tanjore is situated at a distance of 316 Kms from Chennai. Tanjore is also famous for its Paintings.
History of Thanjavur
The word Thanjavur is derived from the word 'Tanjan an asura' means giant, who according to local legend destroyed the neighbourhood was killed by Sri Anandavalli Amman and Vishnu.
Thanjavur was the of capital Chola dynasty who ruled this place from 850 to 1270 AD. It was during this period major temples, ports was bulit.
The Chola dynasty became extinct in the beginning of the thirteenth century and it paved way for Pandyas. In a very Short period pandyas was defeated by Muslim ruler Ala-Ud-Din Khilji the Sultan of Delhi, Thanjavur district came under the Muslim rulers.
The Thanjavur district remained under the control of the Vijayanagar Kings for a long period. During this period the Nayak dynasty was established and Sevappa, the founder of Nayak Kingdom of Thanjavur made his appearance on the scene (1532-1560). In the year 1560, Sevappa Nayak passed the rule of the kingdom to his son Achuyutappa Nayak. His rule, unlike that of his father was not one of unbroken peace and after getting old he abdicated the crown in favour of his son Ragunatha. During his reign, a Danish settlement was established at Tranquebar in 1620. The Nayaks of Thanjavur remained loyal to Vijayanagar after the battle of Talikotta and helped the Vijayanagar rulers in repulsing the attacks of the Nayaks of Madurai and their temporary ally Golkonda, but the beginning of the 17th Century saw the end of the Vijayanagar Empire
The Marathas came to the Thanjavur district in the later half of the seventeenth century and Ekogi was the first Maratha ruler of Thanjavur. They ruled over Thanjavur for some time but later became vassals of the Mughal Governor of Afterwards there were hostilities between the Nawabs of Arcot and the Maratha ruler of Thanjavur. The English and French also began interfering in the internal affairs of South India and the supremacy of the English was later established. Saraboji II, the adopted son of Tuljaji, was made the King of Thanjavur in the year 1798, after agreeing with all the conditions laid down by the British Government. A pact was signed between the English and the Maratha ruler by virtue of which the status of the Raja was reduced to a mere vassal
SightSeeing places in Thanjavur or Tanjore
Brahadeeswarar Temple (or) Big Temple:
Rajagopala Beerangi (Cannon)
The Saraswathi Mahal Library
How to Reach Thanjavur:
By Air : Nearest domestic airport is Tirichy is 58 kms.
By Rail : Trichy Junction is the nearest railway station which is at a distance of 58 km Thanjavur .
By Road : Thanjavur is well connected by TNSRTC, KSRTC & Private bus services. It is connected to all major cities nearby such as Palani, Kodai Road, Theni, Dindigul, Thiruchirappalli, Kumuli, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Chennai .