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Thanjavur
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Thanjavur , also known by its anglicised name Tanjore, is a municipality and the headquarters of the Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a population of a quarter of a million and is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu.
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.
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Encyclopedia
Thanjavur , also known by its anglicised name Tanjore, is a municipality and the headquarters of the Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a population of a quarter of a million and is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu.
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, the Brihadeeswara Temple, is located in the center of the town. 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".
Thanjavur is well-connected by roads and railways with other parts of India and with 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.
Etymolgy
The name Thanjavur is believed to have been derived from Tanjan, an asura in Hindu mythology, who is believed to have to have been killed at this spot by the Hindu god Vishnu.
History
The Thanjavur area has a rich historical heritage and is a prism of ancient as well as the modern south Indian civilizations. 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.
Under the Cholas
Thanjavur, or Tanjapuri as it was called in the ancient times was chosen by the Mutharayar king and later conquered by Vijayalaya Chola. Vijayalaya built a temple for his favourite goddess Nisumbhasudani in the city. Although subsequent emperors made Kanchipuram a subsidiary capital, Thanjavur maintained its position as the chief city. The great Brihadeeswara Temple, built by Rajaraja Chola I was completed around 1010 AD. It remained the centre of the Chola administration for many years, channelling the state revenue into a number of civic projects. It also acted as a repository of the empire's records, as the great Rajaraja had its walls covered with numerous inscriptions recording his conquests and his endowments to various charities. The impression we get from the inscriptions is of a wealthy, progressive city, although totally dominated by the temple.
The inscriptions tell us about a number of royal palaces in the city and of the districts where palace servants lived. We also learn the names of a number of streets: the big street of Virasola and the big market of Tribhuvanamadeviyar. During the reign of Rajaraja we learn that the city was divided into two parts: Ullalai (inner) and Purambadi (outer) city. Purambadi could have been an extension to the city built during Rajaraja's reign. Among the new streets built by Rajaraja were two running east to west in front of the Brihadeeswara Temple and called Northern and Southern Talichcheries. People who worked in the temple occupied these streets. There were other temples then, such as the Jayabhima temple and Tanjai Mamani found in the inscriptions, which do not exist anymore. There was also a public hospital attached to a Vishnu temple named after Sundara Chola called Sundarachola Vinnagara Salai which was endowed by Kundavai, the sister of Rajaraja Chola.
The influence of Thanjavur began to diminish when Rajendra Chola I built a new city named Gangaikonda Cholapuram and moved his capital there.
Under the Nayaks and Marathas
After the Cholas the Pandyas conquered the Chola country. Madurai was the Pandya capital and Thanjavur remained in the background, as a province of Vijayanagara empire.
Later in 1535,the Vijayanagara king installed a Nayak king hence the era of Tanjore Nayaks which lasted till mid-17th century, until attacked by the Madurai Nayaks. Later slipped into the hands of Marathas.
Tanjore was conquered by the Marathas in 1674 under Venkaji, the half-brother of Shivaji the Great; his successors ruled as Maharajas of Tanjore. The British first came into contact with Tanjore by their expedition in 1749 with a view to the restoration of a deposed raja of Tanjore Nayak lineage. In this they failed, and a subsequent expedition was bought off. The Maratha rajas held Tanjore until 1799.
In October 1799, the district was ceded to the British East India Company in absolute sovereignty by Raja Serfoji II, a pupil of the missionary Schwartz. The raja retained only the capital and a small tract of surrounding country. He died in 1833 and was succeeded by his son Sivaji, on whose death in 1855 without an heir the house became extinct.
Geography
Thanjavur is located at approximately in the centre of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is located in the centre of the Cauvery delta, about 320 kilomtres from the state capital Chennai and 56 kilometres from Tiruchirapalli. Some of the nearby towns are Kumbakonam (40 km), Pattukkottai (45 km), Mannargudi (37 km), Pudukkottai (55 km), Tiruvarur (58 km),peravurani (80) and Nagappattinam (84 km) The municipality has an area of about 36 km2. The township and its exterior suburbs extend for an area of about 100 km2.
The town has an elevation of 57 metres above mean sea level. It is drained by the rivers Vadavar and Vennar in the north.
Places of interest
Thanjavur is famous for the Brihadishwara Temple (or Brihadeeswara temple) built by Rajaraja Chola during the 11th century . The Brihadishwara Temple, also known as the Big Temple, is one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple is enclosed in two courts, surmounted by a lofty tower and including the exquisitely decorated shrine of Murugan. Among the other historic buildings is the Vijayanagara fort, which contains a palace that was expanded by the Maratha king Serfoji II with an armoury, a Bell Tower and the Saraswathi Mahal Library, which contains over 30,000 Indian and European manuscripts written on palm leaf and paper. Also built by Serfoji II is the Manora Fort, a monumental tower, situated about 65 km away from Thanjavur.Raja Rajan Manimandapam which is also one among the tourist places in Thanjavur, nearby which, The Bronze Idol of Padmashree Sivaji Ganesan, a renoved actor's Idol has been Established, who is the "Son of this Soil".
Arts and culture
Thanjavur is one of the chief political, literary and religious centres of southern India, known for its contribution to Carnatic music, it has produced many classical musicians and Bharathanatyam dancers. It has become the second most important site for the annual Natyanjali dance festival.
Tiruvaiyaru, which is close to Thanjavur, is the place where the great musician Saint Tyagaraja lived. Here in Tiruvaiyaru every year in the Tamil month of 'Thai'(second half of January) Thyagaraja Aradhana will be held where musicians from all over the country will participate.
Tanjore is well known for bronze sculptures and its unique painting style called Tanjore Painting, a percussion instrument called the Thavil, a divine classical string instrument Veenai and the Thanjavur Dolls.
The Tanjore paintings are very popular and are renown around the world. The artists use a combination of canvas background with glass, metals, etc. to depict and decorate various scenes from Hindu mythology.
Tanjore plates which are made of color glass pieces which are aesthetically cut and embedded on velvet cloth. It will have god image or birds at the center.
Sacred Heart Cathedral in the city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tanjore.
- South Zone Culture Centre in Thanjavur is one of many regional cultural centres established by Indian Government to preserve and promote traditional cultural heritage of India.
Demographics
Thanjavur is the eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu with a population of 221,185 (est. 2008). Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Thanjavur has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 76%. In Thanjavur, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. Tamil is the most widely spoken language while Telugu, Saurashtrian and Thanjavur Marathi are also spoken. The Tamil spoken in Thanjavur constitutes the Thanjavur dialect which is the standard lingua franca of the Cauvery delta. Hindus form the majority, but the town has substantial Muslim and Christian minorities.
Education
Thanjavur is renowned for its culture of education. It is home to the famous Saraswati Mahal library which dates back to the end of the 16th century and contains over 30,000 rare manuscripts. It has now been fully computerized. St. Peter's, founded in the 18th century by Schwartz, is a renowned school. Currently, Thanjavur has four universities, viz., the Tamil University, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy, Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute Of Science & Technology and Periyar Maniammai University and several colleges including the renowned Thanjavur Medical College. There are also many research centres, including the Paddy Processing Research Centre and Soil and Water Research Centre.
Universities
- Tamil University
- SASTRA University (formerly Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy). Sastra has a well developed sprawling campus on a site and is an accredited Research and Development Centre under the President's Technology Mission - TIFAC CORE. Sastra has collaborations and exchange programs with many reputable universities abroad.
- Periyar Maniammai University - proven record of academic excellence in all its programmes and an impressive track record in Engineering Education for over 20 years. It has an ideal setting for teaching, learning and research with high-tech facilities in its vast lush green and clean campus.
- PRIST University
Colleges
Medical
- Thanjavur Medical College(Fourth Medical College in Tamil Nadu started in 1959)
Engineering
- Shanmuga Arts, Science,Technology and Research Academy
- Parisutham Institute of Technology & Science (P I T S)
- Anjalai Ammal Mahalingam Engineering College(AAMEC)
- Periyar Maniyammai College of Technology for Women
- PR Engineering College
- Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College of Engineering and Technology (PRCET)
- King's College of Engineering (KCE)
- St. Josephs College Of Engineering and Technology
Paramedical
- Mannai Narayanasamy College
- Arasu Paramedical College
- Konagarnadu College of Nursing
- Our Lady of Health College of Nursing
Business school
- Gnanam School of Business
Agriculture
- Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology
Autonomous colleges
- A.V.V.M Sri Pushapam College (Autonomous)was established in 1956 and it has NAAC accreditation with status of four stars.
- Rajah Serfoji Govt. College
- Kundhavai Nachiar Govt. College
Other Arts, science and management colleges
- Ponnaiyah Ramajayam College of Arts and Science
- Tamilvel Umamaheshwaranar Karanthai Arts College
- Na. Mu. Venkatasamy Nattar College
- Nalli Kuppusamy Women's College
- Bharath College of Science and Management
- Marudhupandiar College
- Adaikala Matha College
- Adaikala Matha Institute of Management
- Bon Secours College
- Abi & Abi College of Arts and Science
- Swamy Vivekanandha College of Arts and Science
- P R Institute of Management
Polytechnic
- Periyar Centenary Polytechnic
- Vandayar Polytechnic
- CCMR Polytechnic
- Shanmuga Polytechnic
- P R Polytechnic
B.Ed colleges
- Dr.S.R.J.College of Education
- Maruthu Pandiar College of Education
- Bon Secours College of Education
- Bharath College of Education
- John Britto College of Education
- P R College of Education
- Dr.Velaichamy Nadar College of Education for Women
Teacher training institutes
- Maruthu Pandiar Teacher Training Institute.
Famous schools
- Tansri Ubaidulla Matriculation Hr.Sec.School
- Kassimia Hr.Sec School
- RDB Matriculation School
- Crescent Matriculation Hr.Sec.School
- St. Antonys Higher secondary school
- E.D.Thomas Memorial Higher Secondary school(Established in 1953)
- Spadix Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Kalyanasundaram Higher Secondary School (Established in 1893)
- Don Bosco Matriculation higher secondary school
- Salesian Industrial School (established before 1922)
- Kamala Subramaniam Matriculation Higher Secondary School
- Auxilium Convent
- Sacred Heart Convent
- Morning star matriculation school
- Sri Venkateswara matriculation higher secondary school
- Blake Higher Secondary School
- Veeraragava Higher Secondary School
- Umamaheswara Higher Secondary School
- Rajahs Higher Secondary School
- St. Joseph Girls Higher Secondary School
- Girls Christian Higher Secondary School
- St. Peters Higher Secondary School
- Maxwell matriculation higher secondary school
- Seventh-Day matriculation higher secondary school
- Sir P.S.Sivaswami Iyer higher secondary school
- Maharishi Vidya Mandir higher secondary school
- Yagappa Matriculation Public School
- P R Public School
- Govt. Higher Secondary School - Membalam
- Radient Metriculation School
- Navabharat Matriculation School - Municipal Colony
- Thamarai International Residential School
Transportation
Highways
Thanjavur is well connected with other parts of the state by Road.
4 National Highways connect Thanjavur to various parts of the country like Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore, Mysore, Madurai etc.
The Thanjavur-Trichy segment of NH67 is currently being converted to a four-lane highway which would be followed by the Thanjavur-Nagapattinam segment.
National highways
- NH 67 Nagapattinam-Tiruvarur-Thanjavur-Tiruchirappalli-Karur-Coimbatore-Ooty-Gudalur
- NH 45C Thanjavur-Kumbakonam-Sethiathope-Neyveli-Panruti-Vikravandi NH45 Junction
- NH 226 Thanjavur-Pudukottai-Sivaganga-Manamadurai
- NH Thanjavur-Thiruvaiyaru-Ariyalur-Perambalur
State highways
- SH 29 Thanjavur-Pattukottai-Aranthangi-Karaikudi-Paramakudi-Mudhukulathur-Sayalkudi
- SH 63 Thanjavur-Mannargudi-Thiruthuraipoondi-Vedaranyam-Kodiakkarai
Thanjavur City has excellent town bus service. There are two bus termini, one for Town buses (Old Bus Stand) and the other for mofussil buses (New Bus Stand), from where there are frequent buses to Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Kumbakonam and various other parts of the state. The Thanjavur-Trichy mofussil bus route is the most travelled in the state and there are frequent buses from both cities 24 hours of the day.
The State Express Transport Corporation operates buses to Chennai, Bangalore, Ernakulam, Marthandam, Nagercoil, Tirupathi,Thiruvananthapuram, Ooty and to various other parts of the southern states.
Railways
Thanjavur is one of the principal Railway Junctions in Southern Railway. It is connected to Chennai (popularly called as the Main line) via Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore and Villupuram.
It is also connected to Nagore in the East and Tiruchirappalli in the West.
There were six trains to Chennai daily before Unigauge gauge conversion. But now there is only one train from Chennai to Thanjavur, the Rockfort Express (6177/6178), which runs from Chennai to Kumbakonam.
At present Thanjavur has direct trains to Chennai, Nagore, Trichy, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Mysore, Tirunelveli and Ernakulam
Flights
In early 1990s, Thanjavur was connected with Chennai via the Vayudoot Flight Service, which was stopped due to poor patronage. Now a full fledged Air Force Station is coming up at Thanjavur to station Fighter (aircraft) and Sukhoi jets and is expected to include civil service for passengers. The Thanjavur Air Force Station will start its operation soon.
Senior government officials
- Deputy inspector general of police: Mr Abhash Kumar IPS
- District collector: Mr Shanmugham IAS
- District superintendent of police: Mr Amit Kumar Singh IPS
Entertainment and Cinema
Major Parks
- Sivaganga Park
- Rajarajan Manimandapam
- Tamil Conference Memorial Tower at Tholkappiar Square
Cinema
- GV Studio City A/C DTS - a 5 Screen Multiplex
- Shanthi A/C DTS
- Kamala A/C DTS
- Shivaji A/C DTS
- Gee Vee A/C DTS
- Gee Vee Gold A/C DTS
- Rajarajan A/C DTS
- ADLABS Rani Paradise A/C DTS (Reliance BIG CINEMA)
- Vijaya A/C DTS
- Jupiter A/C DTS
- Arul A/C DTS
- Yagappa 70 mm DTS
- Raja Kalaiarangam
- Thiruvalluvar
- Parveen
- Kumaran
Arasu Cable TV Corporation
- Tamilnadu Government launched Arasu Cable TV Corporation (ACTVC) at Thanjavur to provide quality cable service to the public at an affordable cost. A Digital room is set up at Thanjavur which gives feed to eight districts namely Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Trichy, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Pudukkottai and Karur.
Popular personalities from in and around Thanjavur
- Mathematician - Ramanujan - Kumbakonam - Thanjavur District
- "Muththamizh Vallal" Rao Bahadur A.Y.Arulanandhaswamy Nadar - Co-Founder and Second President of Karanthai Thamil Sangam. Philanthrophist.
- Sir A.T.Panneer Selvam - Barrister-at-law, Minister in the erstwhile composite State of Madras (Presidency) and Justice Party Leader. Co-Founder of Karanthai Thamizh Sangam.
- Thiru. Uma Maheshwarar, Renowned Tamil Scholar & Founder of Karanthai Tamil Sangam.
- Poet - Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram - Pattukottai - Thanjavur District
- Nadigar Thilagam Pathmashree Sivaji Ganesan - actor
- Dr. R. Venkataraman - Former President of the Republic of India
- Thiru U. V. Swaminatha Iyer(Tamil Thatha) - Tamil scholar
- Thiru P.A.Yagappa Nadar, the large-hearted donor of the lands now occupied by the Thanjavur Medical College, Rajah Serafoji College and the New Bus Stand.
- Thiru Chaandilyan - Tamil Writer - Author of kadal Pura, Yavana Rani..
- Thiru T. Janakiraman (Thi. Jaa) - Tamil Writer - Author of Moha Mul, Mara Pasu..
- Kalaignar M Karunanidhi - (He is from Thirukuvalai which was a part of the composite Thanjavur District)
- Thiru A.Y.S.Parisutha Nadar, long time M.L.A. and Municipal Chairman of Thanjavur, Philanthrophist
- Thiru. Rt. Hon. Srinivasa Sastri - Known as the Silver Tongued for proficiency in English
- Thiru A.Kaliamoorthy - Police officer who has headed many police missions.
- S.Shankar - Famous Tamil Film Director
- Madan - cartoonist
- Late shri.Subburama bhagavadhar
- Bhagavadha sironmani shri.kovai.s.jayaraman
- SVe.Shekar - actor
- Thirumathi Manorama- Tamil Actress
- - Dean R&D, IIT Bombay
- Dr.S.Janikiraman Well Known Child specialist.
- ex. Attorney General of India.
- Late Dr. N Ramanathan the first M.B.B.S Doctor after whom a landmark, Ramanathan Hospital bus stop is named.
- Dr. R Radhakrishnan well known physician, ex. Dean Thanjavur medical college.
- D.Rajasekar IFS, Secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
Industries
- Amutha plastics, is a polythene manufacturer of PP, HM(hdpe), LD, natural, colour and flexo colour printed bags, With high quality production and supply ability. Situated 0.5km from new bus stand.
External links
See also
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