Seeing my blogposts, I suddenly realized that I have been partial to my home state. There are only few posts dedicated to my home state, Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu
The name ‘Tamil Nadu’ invokes mixed feelings to different people in India.

Be it the traditional arts, remarkable temple architecture, interesting culture (Not to mention the boundless love for Tamizh), spicy cuisine, excellent coffee(Read Kumbakonam Degree coffee), quaint hillstations or it’s people, everything in Tamil Nadu is going to take you on a splendid journey.

Though writing about Tamil Nadu needs a series of blogpost, I am confining this post to the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu, Thanjavur(Tanjore).

Thanjavur
This Delta district of Tamil nadu is rich in agriculture specially paddy, hence known as the rice bowl of Tamil nadu. Not only in agriculture, Thanjavur had also been culturally rich in the field of art & architechture.

This cultural hub on the banks of Cauvery has got a dazzling history with it’s rulers varying from Great Chola Dynasty to Vijayanagara Empire to Marathas.

The feats of the great rulers are still being reflected in it’s cultural capital, Thanjavur.

From Brihadeeshwarar temple Natyanjali to fine arts of Tanjore paintings and dolls, Thanjavur, the name invokes a legacy of culturally rich eras.

Brihadeeshwarar Temple
This temple,  surrounded by fortified wall and moat and carved with idols of various gods, goddess and postures of classical dance ‘Bharatanatyam’ is indeed a testimony to the sheer architechtural brilliance of the Chola dynasty.

Being the first temple constructed using granite in Tamil Nadu and the granite source not being home to this region, it is said to have got the granite from Northern part of India to construct this temple.

Despite the heat waves of mid noon, as soon as you set foot inside the Gopura, you would find the cold stone beneath your feet soothing.

Showcasing the dravidian art to the world, this temple indeed is a masterpiece in a celebration of artistry.

Raja Raja Chola(Fondly called as Ponniyin Selvan) didn’t leave this legacy to just Tamil Nadu. He had taken the aesthetics of Chola architecture to different countries across the continent from Srilanka, Maldives to South east asia.

Don’t forget to watch the spectacular silhouette image of the temple during sunset.

Interesting facts

1. This temple is World’s first complete granite temple
2. This temple is built using interlocking of stones. No binding material is used in building this temple. 
3. No 200 feet structure is built without binding materials.
4. It is built 1000 years ago using Vedic building technology.
5. A single square block of 80 tons granite is kept above the storeys making it the tallest monoliths placed on a towering structure in the world. (How they might have moved the 80 tons block to top of the tower is still a mystery?)

Thanjavur Aranmanai(Thanjavur Palace)
Though Thanjavur palace was initially constructed by last Nayak rulers, the advent of Maratha rulers in Thanjavur has added portions to the palace making it architecturally unique with the blend in styles of two different eras.

Right next to the art gallery lies the Bell Tower, seven storied tall structure built by Nayaks.

Madamaligai- The Bell tower of Maratha was built so that the Nayak rulers can worship Sri Ranganathar of Sri Rangam every day from top of the tower.

Don’t miss out on the documentary played every hour in Audio Visual room which takes you on a journey of erstwhile years of Thanjavur, documenting it’s history, art, architecture and culture.

There were lot of goose bump moments for me while watching the audio visuals. Hats off to the people behind it.

Thanjavur Painting
Adorned with semi precious metals and gold leaf, Thanjavur paintings are painted on wooden planks. Hence the name Palagai padam(Wooden plank picture).

Though the traditional art, which started in 14th century, had continued to hold it’s way all along, it is necessary to promote for it’s further survival.

Do you know that these Tanjore paintings have been a source of inspiration for modern artists like Ravi Varma?

Thanjavur Thalayati Bommai (Thanjavur Doll)
Thanjavur Thalayati bommai is a handmade, traditional bobble head toy made of clay. This dancing doll making has been there in Thanjavur for so long a time(since 19th century) that a trip to Thanjavur is incomplete without buying it. 

Note – If you want to buy best Thanjavur Thalayati Bommai at optimum price, I would suggest you to buy it in Thanjavur palace government art museum, as they have the best of them.

But being government museum, you may not be able to negotiate. But the cost is quite reasonable for the quality than buying it outside.