Thanjavur (also popularly known as tanjore) has a rich historical heritage and is a prism of ancient as well as the modern south Indian civilizations. Thanjavur is well-connected by roads and railways with other cities and towns in Tamil Nadu. The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli located at a distance of 56 kilometres and the nearest seaport in Nagapattinam which is 84 kilometres from Thanjavur.The city was once the stronghold of the historic Cholas and at one time was also the capital of the Cholas, Mutharayars and Marathas when they were at the peak of their power.
Since then, Thanjavur has been one of the chief political, cultural and religious centres of South India. Thanjavur contains over 90 temples, as it was favored by the Chola rulers between the 1st - 12th centuries, the Nayakas in the 16th century, and the Marathas in the 17th and 18th centuries. The name Thanjavur is derived from "Tanjan", a legendary asura in Hindu mythology.
Thanjavur is one of the oldest cities in India and has a long and varied history dating back to Sangam period. The city rose into prominence during the rule of the Later Cholas when it served as the capital of the Chola empire. After the fall of the Cholas, the city was ruled by the Pandyas, Vijayanagar Empire, the Madurai Nayaks, the Thanjavur Nayaks, the Thanjavur Marathas and the British. It has been a part of independent India since 1947. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian art and architecture.
Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, an UNESCO World Heritage Monument are located in an around Thanjavur. The foremost among the Great Living Chola temples, is the Brihadeeswara Temple and it is located in the center of the town. This temple is home to the world’s finest Chola Bronze collection. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and it is located in spacious grounds. It has several pillared halls and shrines. There is much to see here and the inner courtyard is guarded by a gigantic Nandi or bull. It has been created out of a single rock and weighs 25 tonnes.
Thanajavur is also the home of the Tanjore painting, a painting style unique to the region. The town is an important agricultural center located at the heart of the region, known as the "rice bowl of Tamil Nadu".