Chola temple city in the Cauvery delta, home to the UNESCO-listed Brihadeeswarar Temple.
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Thanjavur is built around the Brihadeeswarar Temple, a granite Chola temple from about 1010 AD, plus the Maratha palace, its old library and a bronze gallery. It suits travellers interested in temple architecture, history and crafts such as Tanjore painting, and it makes a good base for the other great Chola temples at Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Trip planner
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| October to March | The most comfortable months, with temperatures roughly 20 to 30 C; December and January are the coolest. |
| April to June | Hot and humid, with daytime highs that can pass 40 C. Visit temples early in the morning or after 4 pm. |
| Monsoon | Rain can be heavy at times and humidity stays high; sightseeing is still possible between showers. |
A granite Shiva temple built by Rajaraja Chola I around 1010 AD and part of the UNESCO Great Living Chola Temples. It has a huge Nandi carved from one rock and a very tall tower.
The former palace of the Nayak and Maratha rulers, with a durbar hall, courtyards, murals and a bell tower with views over the town.
One of the oldest libraries in Asia, inside the palace complex, holding palm-leaf manuscripts and rare books.
A gallery in the palace complex with Chola bronzes, stone sculptures and Tanjore paintings.
An 18th-century church in the palace garden, a quiet stop near the temples.
A 12th-century Chola Shiva temple built by Rajaraja Chola II, shaped like a chariot, with musical stone steps. Also a UNESCO site.
The third of the great Chola temples, built as the Chola capital's main temple.
A hill temple to Lord Murugan reached by steps, often combined with Darasuram.
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| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Simple hotels and lodges near the bus stand | ₹1,500 to ₹2,600 |
| Mid-range | Mid-range city hotels | ₹3,900 to ₹6,200 |
| Luxury | Upscale and heritage resorts | ₹7,300 to ₹13,100 |
Meals are mostly South Indian: rice with sambar, rasam, vegetables and curd at lunch, and tiffin items such as idli, dosa and pongal in the morning and evening. Vegetarian restaurants and lassi shops cluster near South Rampart and East Main Street.
Vegetarian food is easy to find. Many restaurants are pure vegetarian. Jain meals are not widely advertised, so ask in advance.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹1,800 | ₹400 | ₹200 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹4,500 | ₹900 | ₹1,200 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹10,000 | ₹2,500 | ₹3,000 per vehicle |
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No permits are needed. Carry photo ID for hotel check-in.
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Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
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Distance by road.
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