BIG TEMPLE
The Brahadeewarar temple, called the Big Temple, is dedicated to Lord Siva. It was built by the great Chola King Raja Raja 1 (985 -1012 A.D). it is an outstanding exmple of Chola architecture. Recognizing its unique architectural excellence, UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Monument.
The 64. 8 Mt. tall vimanam (tower over the sanctum sanctorum) is testimony to the engineering skill of the Cholas. In keeping with the size of the temple, it has gigantic “Mahalingam” in the shrine, measuring 4 meters in height. A monolithic Nandhi chiseled out of a single rock, measures 5. 94 meters in length, 2.51 metres in breadth and 3.66 meters in height. it is the second largest Nandhi in India. The Nandhi or bull is the vehicle of Lord Siva. Beautiful Chola fresco paintings adorn the inner walls of the Temple. One of the outstanding temples in South India, the Brahadeeshwarar temple is the  Chola dynast’s finest contribution to Dravidian temple architecture. What makes the construction so unique is the variation from the usual temple building style of having a tall gopuram and smaller vimanam. At the Big Temple the vimanam asoars high while the gopuram is smaller. The 64. 8m tall, 14 tier pyramid shaped vimanam raised from a square base is topped by a huge monolithic cupola carved from an 81.3 tonne block of granite. It was raised with the aid of a 6 km long inclined plane. (ph.274476).
PALACE
Just 1 km away from the Brahadeeswarar Temple is a magnificent palace, surrounded by huge fort walls. Dating back to the 14th century A.D., it was built partly by the Nayaks and partly by the Marathas. The Maratha royal family resides in this palace. It is a fascinating building with huge corridors, spacious halls, decorated rooms, tall observation towers, beautiful stucco works, wonderful fresco painted walls and ceilings, an underground tunnel and intricate carvings. The royal family’s sacred “Chandramaulessshwarar Temple” is located  within the palace walls. (P:h 223384)
ART GALLERY
The art gallery has a fabulous collection of bronze icons, stone sculpture and pieces of art. The Collection is unique for its representation of Hindu gods and goddesses, myths and legends. The exhibits are priceless for their historical association.
Timings 9.00am to 1.00pm and 3.00pm to 6.00pm
Entrance Fee: Adults : Rs. 5/-, Child Rs.2/-
Foreigners : Rs 20/- Students : Rs 1/-
Camera Charge : Rs 30/- Video Camera : Rs 300/-
Closed on National Holidays. No Weekly Holidays (Ph: 239823)
SARASWATHI MAHAL LIBRARY

 The Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Saraswathi Mahal Library is one among the few libraries in the world with texts of the medieval period. It is a treasure house of knowledge carefully fostered and nurture by successive dynasties of Nayaks and the Marathas of Thanjavur. It contains a rare and valuable collection of manuscripts, books, maps and paintings on all aspects of Art, Culture and literature, The Encyclopedia Britannica, in its survey of the Libraries of the world, describes it as “the most remarkable Library was made a Public Library in 1918   

Timing 10.00am to 1.00pm and 1.20pm to 5.30pm. Closed on Wednesday Govt. Holidays . (Ph.234107)
SANGEETHA MAHAL
Also in the Palace in the Sangeetha Mahal, acoustically perfect music hall. It is a striking example of the engineering skill of ancient builders.
ROYAL MUSEUM & SERFOJI MEMORIAL HALL
This is regard as a 'Gurustalam' (Abode of Jupiter) where Loard Dankshinamurthy is held in great reverence. The shrine attracts alarge number of devotees when Jupiter transists between zodiac signs. Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, is said to have reborn on the banks of Amrita Pushkarini with the temple precints before reunited with Shiva.
MARATTAH DURBAR HALL

Its huge pillars, beautiful stucco paintings and fresco-painted ceiling are eye-catching.

Timings: 10.00am to 5.45 pm.
Entrance: Adult: Rs. 10/- Child : Rs 5/- (Ph:273623).
SCHWARTZ CHURCH
The 18th-century Christ Church or Schwartz Church a legacy of Tanjore colonial past, stands to the east of the Shivanganga Tank. This church was founded by the Danish missionary, Reverend Frederik Christian Schwartz, in 1779. When he died in 1798, the enlightened Maratha ruler, Serfoji II, donated a striking marble tablet, made by John Flaxman and this has been placed at the western end of the church. It depicts the dying missionary blessing his royal patron, surrounded by ministers and pupils from the school that he established.
RAJARAJAN MANI MANDAPAM
 
It is in the southern part of Thanjavur. It was built during the 8th World Tamil Conference in 1995. This Manimandapam has a museum in its ground floor.
Timings: 10.00am to 5.45pm.
Entrance Fee : Adult: Re. 1.00
Child/Student: 50 paise Closed on Wednesdays.
SIVAGANGA TANK
 
This water tank lies beyond the North west compound of Brahadeeswarar Temple. It is surrounded by large walls and known for it’s sweet water.
RAJAGOPALA BEERANGI ( Cannon )
This is a huge cannon placed at the eastern gate of the Fort. The place is called ‘Beerangi Medu’. The Cannon is amazing in size and the quality speaks of the metallurgical knowledge of the people of those times. The Beerangi is the biggest in India.
Timing: 10.00am to 6.00pm. No Holiday.
THOLKAPPIYAR SADUKKAM
 
 This Sadukkam (Square) was built during the 8th World Tamil Conference. One can have a panoramic view of Thanjavur town from the tower.
Timings: 10.00am to 7.00. Admission Free.
TAMIL UNIVERSITY
Established here in 1981, the Tamil University is engaged in research and advanced studies in Tamil. It is devoted to the cause of promoting Tamil Literature and Language. It enables advanced studies in Tamil like Literature, Grammar, Linguistics, Religion and Philosophy, Manuscriptology, History, Epigraphy, Sociology, Folklore, Anthropology, Arts Sculpture, Music, Drama, Legal Studies, Administration, Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Medical Science, Encyclopedia and Adult Education. (Ph:227434/226720) 
POONDI MATHA BASILICA
The Poondi village is about 35 kms. from Thanjavur and the nearest Railway Station is Budalur. It is a Roman Catholic Pilgrim Centre like Velankanni. Accommodation is provided to the pilgrims by the Church Authorities. Phone No:(04362) 280422.
THIRUKARUGAVUR
The Arulmighu Mullaivananathar and the Karpagarahshambigai temples are situated in the riverbed of River Vettaru a branch of the Cauvery, at a distance of 20 kms northeast of Thanjavur at distance of 20 kms southwest from Kumbakonam. This sthalam Thirukarugavoor is ancient and has been extensively quoted by the Great Shaivite saints Thirugnana Sambandar and Thirunavukkarasar on the dieties Eswara Mullaivananathar and the Goddesses Gharbharakshambigai.
PATTEESWARAM
    Sri DurgaiAmman Temple is situated at Patteeswaram, a village near Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, India.
This Durga when worshipped by the Cholas was so very powerful that the Chola kings have left an indelible mark in the history of India by their constructional work. With the blessings of Goddess Durga, the Chola princes were able to construct 1000 Shivalinga. The Goddess is so powerful that since her arrival at this temple, the original temple has lost its prominence and people throng for blessings from her only.
MANORA
Rajah Serfoji built this 8-storey victory town in 1814 to commemorate the victory of the British over Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo.

It is situated on the shore of Bay of Bengal in Sarabendrajanpathinam village about 20 km. South of Pattukottai Town, in Tanjore Dist. Manora is the grand and gregarious old town with lowerly architecture and surroundings. This ancient fort Monument is styled 'Manora' a derivation from "Minors" of North Indian architecture. This historical Monument majestically shooting up in thin air, 140 feet height. Manora is a pleasing blend of Roman pillar architecture a combination very serious and striking to artistic eyes. This hexogen shapped 10 storyed fort represents the 19th Century architectural taste of Maratha king serfoji of Thanjavur. The panosanic views foamler sea, the floating boats, breezy coconut trees, scattered fisherman houses taking different beautiful shaper at every storey.
PAPANASAM
Papanasam (30 kms) There are two temples; The Pallaivanatha Swamy temple constructed by the Chola King and the other is the 108 Sivalayam temples. There are also a Granary (storehouse of paddy) which measure 86 feet in width and has a height of 36 feet with a capacity of 3,000 kalam which is a measure. The Nayaks between 1600-1634 constructed it. The State Archaeological Department declared it as a monument. One can see the 108 Sivalingams only in the temple in Papanasam.
SWAMIMALAI
Swamimalai (32 kms) It is one of the six abodes or Arupadaiveedu dedicated to Lord Subramanya.
DARASURAM
Raja Raja Chola II built the Airateswara or Darasuram temple. It is an excellent example of 12th century Chola architecture and is well preserved to this day. The frontal columns of the temple have unique miniature sculptures.

During the 14th century the large stone statues surrounding the temple were replaced with brick and mortar statues similar to those found at the Big Temple in Thanjavur. The Archaeological Survey of India has restored the temple. This has been declared as a world Heritage Monument.
KUMBAKONAM
Kumbakonam (40 kms) The Sarangapani, Kumbeswarar, Nageswarar and the Ramaswamy temples are located here. The Mahamagam congregation takes place once in 12 years and it was last held in 2004.
UPPLIYAPPAN KOIL
Uppliyappan Koil(6 kms) This place is 6 kms from Kumbakonam and 46 kms from Thanjavur. Lord Venkatesaperumal like the Tirupathi Balaji is also called Oppil Upper.
THIRUVIDAI MARUTHUR

Thiruvidai Maruthur(8 kms) This place is about 8 kms from Kumbakonam and 48 kms away from Thanjavur. The River Cauvery passes through this village. The village is also called Madhyarjunam and the Presiding deity is Mahalingeswarar and goddess is known as Perunamulaiyammai.
NAVAGRAHA
There is a cluster of Navagraha Temples near Kumbakonam.Each temple is located in a different village. Each of these temples is considered an abode of one of the Navagrahams. However, the majority of these temples are dedicated to Shiva. More Details