thanjavur

Thanjavur (previously also known as Tanjore) is a city in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu . Its also known as Temple city due to the large number of ancient Hindu temples that the city has.

Some of the top places to see in Thanjavur include the following –

• Shiva Ganga Garden
• Saraswathi Mahal Library

• Brihadeeswarar Temple – A large 11th century temple, built in the Chola dynasty-era, with beautiful Dravidian architecture; most popular temple in the city.
• Gangaikonda Cholapuram
• Vijayanagar Fort
• Thanjai Mamani Koil
• Schwartz Church
• Bangaru Kamakshi Amman Temple

• Royal Palace Museum
• The Art Gallery Thanjavur

• Pongal – A harvest festival celebrated in January
• Navaratri – A 9-day Hindu festival, where people worship goddess Durga -falls in the month of October mostly
• Dussehra – Grand celebration on the 10th day, at the end of Navaratri
• Deepawali – Festival of lights

Besides these, various temple festivals are celebrated across the city.

If you’d like to buy some souvenirs, the best things to buy from Thanjavur are its local handicraft artefacts, silk weaves and the popular dancing dolls, which this city is known for! Some of the best shopping spots to check out in Thanjavur are –

• Serfoji Market
• Keelavasal Market
• Amarar Swaminathan Market
• Subramaniya Swami Koil Market

• Philomena Shopping Mall
• Grand Shopping Palace
• Lucky Shopping Mall
• Singapore Shopping Mall

Thanjavur is known for its “Elai Virundhu” – i.e., meal served of a plantain leaf. This consists of various traditional dishes such as –

• Poriyal – A dry sauteed vegetable curry.
• Kootu – A thick stew of vegetables cooked with a paste of coconut, groundnuts or poppy seeds.
• Appalam or Poppadom – A fried crunchy flatbread of lentil or rice dough.
• Kuzhambu – A spicy stew of lentils and vegetable.
• Mor Kuzhambu – A sourish stew of lentils, some vegetable and buttermilk, with tempering added on top (mustard, curry leaves, etc).
• Vadu Mangai – A mildly spicy and juicy pickle of raw baby mangoes.
• Podi – A powder of mixed spices.
• Pachadi – A chutney or Raita – which is a mix of raw onions, tomato or cucumber added in curd.
• Payasam – A sweet milk porridge.

Following is a list of some of best restaurants in Thanjavur to try the local delicacies as well as other interesting foods and sumptuous meals –

• Sathars
• Sree Ariya Bhavan
• Chellammal’s Mannpanai Samayal
• Thillana Restaurant
• Thevars Briyaani
• Aaharam
• Vasantha Bhavan
• Chennai Darbar Restaurant
• Sevvel Amita Restaurant
• Adyar Ananda Bhavan Restaurant Thanjavur

Some of the best hotels in Thanjavur for a comfortable stay include the following –

• Hotel Sangam
• Hotel Parisutham
• Hotel Gnanam
• Hotel Sumi Palace
• Hotel Temple Tower
• Paddy Homestay
• Hotel Yagappa
• Hotel Green Palace
• Hyders Park the Business Hotel

Thanjavur city STD Code – 04362 (to be used before dialling numbers from a device that is not locally registered)

Common emergency numbers –

• Police control room – 100
• Sexual Harassment/Women helpline – 1091
• Accident Helpline (injuries, fatal accidents) – 108
• Child Helpline – 1098
• Fire and Rescue – 101

Tamil is the most spoken language in Thanjavur. But, languages like Telugu, Marathi are spoken as well.

Tamil:

• What's your name? - Unga péranna?
• My name is - En péru
• Where are you from? - Nienga engirundhu varrienga?
• Congratulations! - Paaraattukkal
• Good night and sweet dreams! - Nalla thoungunga!
• What Is This? - Idhu enna?

Telugu:

• Welcome - Susvaagatam
• How are you? - Meeru aelaa unnaaru?
• What's your name? - Mee paeraemandi?
• Where are you from? - Meeday vooru?
• Good morning - Shubhodayam
• Good afternoon - Shubha dhinan

Marathi:

• Welcome - Tumcha svagat aso
• How are you? - Tu kas ahes
• What's your name? - Tujha nav kay ahe
• Where are you from? - Apaṇ kothale ahat?
• Good morning - Su-prabhat
• Have a nice day - Sukhi raha