Thanjavur (Tanjore), on the bank of the Kāverī 400 km south of Chennai, is a land of Chola temples. The town is famous for the raised-relief painting that bears its name — depicting the Hindu deities, including a white-skinned Krishna — in a manner recalling Greek icons.
The Brihadishvara temple
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Brihadishvara temple (or Rājarājeśvaram), in the Dravidian style, is magnificent.
Past the entrance, an imposing Nandi, Śiva’s mount, carved from black granite — 6 m long, 3 m high — guards the courtyard.
The museum, the palace and the surroundings
The museum’s granite and bronze sculptures are worth the detour, as are the library and the palace.
The region, very rich in ancient temples, rewards day trips: Gangaikondacholapuram, Kumbakonam, Darasuram and Swamimalai — home to the famous lost-wax bronze foundries and a “Bronze Museum and School of Arts”. 275 km south of Mahābalipuram, 171 km south of Pondicherry.
