102-528: The Thanjavur Nayak dynasty (or Thanjavur Nayak kingdom ) were the rulers of Thanjavur in the 15th and 17th centuries. The Nayaks, who belonged to the Telugu -speaking Balija social group were originally appointed as provincial governors by the Vijayanagara Emperor in the 15th century, who divided the territory into Nayak kingdoms which were Madurai , Tanjore, Gingee and Kalahasthi . In
204-604: A UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is replicated in the Gangaikonda Cholesvarar Temple constructed by Raja Raja's son Rajendra Chola I (1012–44). King Raja Raja Chola memorial to have a complete makeover soon in Thanjavur. The Thanjavur Maratha palace was the official residence of the Bhonsle family who ruled over the Thanjavur region from 1674 to 1855. It was originally constructed by
306-583: A temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Nisumbhasudani. His son Aditya I (871–901) consolidated their hold over the city. The Rashtrakuta king Krishna II (878–914), a contemporary of the Chola king Parantaka I (907–950), claims to have conquered Thanjavur, but there are no records to support the claim. Gradually, Thanjavur became the most important city in the Chola Empire and remained its capital till
408-489: A Municipal corporation. Thanjavur City Corporation is likely to have an area of 110.27 km (42.58 sq mi) of area, with a population of 3,20,828 and an income of ₹ 411.8 million (US$ 4.9 million). The villages Pudupattinam, Nanjikottai , Neelagiri, Melaveli, Pillaiyarpatti, Ramanathapuram, Pallieri, Vilar and Inathukanpatti are likely to be added to the municipal corporation limits. Thanjavur became City Corporation on 10 April 2014. Thanjavur comes under
510-554: A dam across Cauvery near Tiruvadi leading to efficient irrigation in its vicinity. Numerous Agraharas (housing for Brahmins ) in Tanjore country were built in his period. During his last days the Rayas now ruling from Chandragiri and Vellore had rival claimants within the family to the title and were heading for a war with the other Nayak kings taking sides with some suited to their vested interests. Raghunatha Nayak (1600–1634)
612-481: A focal point for food grains transported from the adjoining areas of the Cauvery Delta . Organic farming is gradually becoming known to the farmers of Thanjavur. To maximise agricultural produce, organic farming is being implemented. Though agriculture is the main economic activity, only 7% of the population is involved in it. There is a lot of agricultural related trading that forms the key economic activity in
714-517: A palatial house in Patteeswaram , the remnants of which are believed to exist. This versatile genius and erudite scholar composed Arivamsa Saracharitram and Sangitha Sudhanidhi(a treatise on music). He is credited with the construction and repair of the Amman shrine of Thenupuriswarar Temple at Patteeswaram . The sculpture of Dikshita and his wife, holding their hands in adoration, are found in
816-557: A people's park by the Tanjore municipality in 1871–72. It has a collection of plants, animals and birds and serves as a zoo for children within the city. Schwartz Church, a historic monument located in the palace garden, was built in 1779 by Serfoji II as a token of affection for Rev. C.V. Schwartz of the Danish Mission. There are five museums in the city, namely: Archeological Museum, Tamil University Museum located with
918-461: A population of 222,943. Roadways are the major means of transportation, while the city also has rail connectivity. The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli International Airport , located 59.6 km (37.0 mi) away from the city. The nearest seaport is Karaikal , which is 94 km (58 mi) away from Thanjavur. The city first rose to prominence during the reign of the Cholas when it served as
1020-650: A single bus terminus located at the heart of the city. An integrated bus terminus, called New Bus stand was constructed in 1997 near Raja Serfoji College to handle the passenger traffic. Thanjavur has a well-maintained sub-urban public transport system. Government and private buses operate frequently between the two bus termini and other towns and villages like Vallam , Budalur , Mohamed Bunder, Nadukkavery , Pillaiyarpatti , Vallam Pudursethi , Sengipatti , Ammapettai , Mariamman Kovil , Thiruvaiyaru and Kuruvadipatti . The railway line connecting Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station to Chennai Egmore via Thanjavur ,
1122-588: A single granite rock. Thanjavur is also home to Tanjore painting , a painting style unique to the region. Thanjavur is the headquarters of the Thanjavur District . The city is an important agricultural centre located in the Kaveri Delta and is known as the Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu . Thanjavur is administered by a municipal corporation covering an area of 36.31 km (14.02 sq mi) and had
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#17327754853101224-473: A skilled master in horse riding. In the field of music, Raghunatha created new ragas, talas, and melas like Jayanta sena (Ragam), Ramananda (Talam), Sargita vidya and Raghunatha (Mela). His Sanskrit treatise on music, Sangita Sudha opened the secrets of music to all. Raghunatha also composed kavyas and dance-dramas like Prabandkas, Parijatapaharana, Valmika Charitra Kavya, Achyutendrabhyudayam, Gajendramoksham, Nala Caritiam and Rukmini Krishna Vivaha Yakshagana. It
1326-484: A special branch that operates at the district level police division headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP). Thanjavur has a total of four Universities, namely the Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology , PRIST University , SASTRA University and Tamil University . The Tamil University is a state run institute, started during 1981 and obtained its statutory recognition from
1428-429: Is a doll made from clay, wood or plastic. The sarees produced in the villages surrounding Thanjavur are sold in Thanjavur and neighbouring towns. Increasing production costs and competition from large-scale producers have reduced the number of people involved in the production. The city produces bell metal craft like Thanjavur metal plates, bronze images bowls, napkins and powder boxes made of copper and bronze. The city
1530-591: Is a major manufacturer of pith works consisting of models of Hindu idols, mosques, garlands and other bird figurines. Manufacture of musical instruments like veena , tambura , violin , mrithamgam , thavil and kanjira is another economic activity in the city. All major nationalised banks such as State Bank of India , Indian Bank , Central Bank of India , Punjab National Bank , Indian Overseas Bank and private banks like ICICI Bank , City Union Bank have their branches in Thanjavur. All these banks have their automated teller machines located in various parts of
1632-578: Is a part of Trichy Electricity Distribution Circle. Water supply is provided by the Thanjavur Corporation from the Vadavar Canal, supplied through overhead tanks located in various parts of the city. During the 2000–01 period, a total of 31 million litres of water was supplied every day for households in the city. About 110 metric tonnes of solid waste are collected from Thanjavur every day by door-to-door collection and subsequently
1734-550: Is also believed to be Tirupalathurai, near Papanasam . Life like images of Govinda Dikshithar is now worshipped at Patteswaram, with the presiding deity of Linga also called "Govinda Dikshita lingam". Dikshita spent his early years in Vijayanagara kingdom where he attained his education. Dikshita is a Karnataka Brahmin of Asvalayana sutra of Rig veda. Dikshita is spoken of as 'One of the Trio of Theoreticians' of modern period;
1836-622: Is an important center of southern Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples , which are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments , are located in and around Thanjavur. The foremost among these, the Brihadeeswara Temple , built by the Chola emperor Rajaraja I , is located in the centre of the city. This temple has one of the largest bull statues (called Nandi ) in India carved out of
1938-757: Is connected by rail with most important cities and towns in India. There are daily express trains to Chennai , Mysuru , Ernakulam , Thrissur , Palakkad , Coimbatore , Erode , Tiruppur , Tiruchirapalli , Salem , Karur , Madurai , Tirunelveli , Rameswaram , Tiruchendur , Cuddalore , Dharmapuri , Viluppuram , Chengalpattu , Mannargudi , Bengaluru , Dindigul , Pudukkottai , Karaikudi , Sivagangai , Manamadurai and weekly trains to Pondicherry , Nagercoil , Kanyakumari , Tirupati , Nellore , Itarsi , Visakhapatnam , Hubli , Vasco da Gama, Goa , Vijayawada , Chandrapur , Nagpur , Jabalpur , Satna , Katni , Allahabad , Varanasi , Jaunpur , Ayodhya , and Bhubaneswar . There are frequent passenger trains from
2040-524: Is connected with Nagapattinam , Thiruvarur , Chennai , Coimbatore , Erode , Karur , Tirupur , Vellore , Perambalur , Ariyalur , Mysuru , Salem , Cuddalore , Viluppuram , Tiruchirappalli , Madurai , Kumbakonam , Mayiladuthurai , Karaikal , Mannargudi , Thiruthuraipoondi , Vedaranyam , Pattukkottai , Dindigul , Oddanchatram , Palani , Pudukkottai , Karaikudi , Tirunelveli , Bengaluru , Ernakulam , Nagercoil , Tirupathi , Trivandrum and Ooty through regular bus services. Thanjavur had
2142-415: Is credited with writing several books on music and literature. Maduravani and Ramabhadramba were two famous poets in his court, while Sudhindra and Raghavendra were two famous Madhva gurus patronised by him. Govinda Dikshita 's son Yajnanarayana has written an account on Raghunatha's rule in his work Sahitya Ratnakara . Raghunatha was a gifted scholar and an expert in the art of swordplay, a fine marksman and
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#17327754853102244-543: Is located inside the palace – it has a large collection of stone and bronze images from the ninth to 12th centuries. Most of the idols present in the gallery were collected from various temples in the Thanjavur district. The Sivaganga Park is situated to the east of the Brihadeeswarar Temple and encompasses the Sivaganga Tank believed to have been built by the king Raja Raja Chola. It was created as
2346-591: Is one of the oldest medical colleges in Tamil Nadu. The Paddy Processing Research Centre (PPRC), which later became the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology in 2017, is a hub for food processing research. The Saraswati Mahal Library which dates back to the end of the 16th century and the Central Library, managed by the district administration are the two most prominent libraries in
2448-516: Is situated in the Cauvery delta , at a distance of 340 km (210 mi) south-west of Chennai and 56 km (35 mi) east of Tiruchirappalli . While the plains immediately adjoining the Cauvery river have been under cultivation from time immemorial, most of Thanjavur city and the surrounding areas lie in the "New Delta" – a dry, barren upland tract which was brought under irrigation during
2550-535: Is the Brihadeeswarar Temple , whose construction, the historian Percy Brown described as "a landmark in the evolution of building art in South India". Built in the 11th century by the Chola king Raja Raja Chola I (985–1014), the temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva . The walls of the sanctum are covered with wall paintings from the Chola and Nayak periods. The temple was designated
2652-695: Is the Tamil name for Balijas who have settled in Tamil nadu . The Mannaru (Vishnu) of the Mannargudi temple was their kula deivam (family deity). Telugu and Tamil literature flourished during the reign of Nayakas in Tanjavur which was referred to as the Southern School of Tamil and Telugu Literature. Many Telugu and Tamil musicians and pandits were part of their court. Sevappa Nayak (1532–1580)
2754-547: Is the most powerful king of Nayaks of Tanjore . He is famous for his patronage of literature other scholarly research. One of his wives, Ramabhadramba was highly educated and a gifted poet. During his time he granted military assistance to the Chandragiri ruler Venkata II to recover most of his lost areas from the Golconda forces. In 1620 Raghunatha Nayak permitted a Danish settlement at Tarangambadi . This encouraged
2856-478: Is the widely spoken language, with the standard dialect being Central Tamil dialect . Telugu , Thanjavur Marathi and Saurashtra are other languages spoken in the city. Thanjavur is the cultural and political center of the Thanjavur Marathi people. While Hindus form the majority, the city also has a substantial population of Muslims and Christians . Roman Catholics in Thanjavur are affiliated to
2958-540: The mandap in front of the Amman shrine. Legend associates him with Tirunageswaram, a village located 6 km from Kumbakonam in the Kumbakonam - Karaikal road and also with Patteswaram, 6 km south east of Kumbakonam. The name of his wife is ascertained as Nagamba. But the presence of the idol of Dikshita in the premises of Patteswaram temple and presence of ruins of his house in the village outskirts confirm his private location to be Patteeswaram. His location
3060-540: The Indian National Congress for Seven terms during 1951–56, 1957–62, 1962–1967, 1980–84, 1984–1989, 1989–91 and 1991–96, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for Seven terms during 1967–71, 1971–77, 1996–98, 1998–99, 1999–04, 2004–09 and 2009–present and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for one term during 1977–80. R. Venkataraman , who served as the President of India from 1987 to 1992,
3162-742: The Madurai Nayaks and the Tanjore Nayaks ultimately leading to the Battle at Vallamprakara where the Tanjore army with the Rayas fought against Veerappa Nayak of Madurai by defeating the latter. This happened at the same time as when the Rayas of Chandragiri were waging wars with the Deccan Sultanates in southern Andhra Pradesh , Achuthappa Nayak provided support. Portugal controlled the Nagapattinam territory as well as
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3264-508: The Main Line is a historical line established by South Indian Railway Company in 1879. The Great Southern of India Railway Company (GSIR) operated a broad gauge rail service between Nagapattinam and Tiruchirapalli via Thanjavur between 1861 and 1875. During 1875 it was converted to a meter gauge line (MG line). Modern day Thanjavur railway junction has three rail heads leading to Tiruchirapalli , Kumbakonam and Thiruvarur . Thanjavur
3366-712: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tanjore and Protestants are affiliated to the Trichy–Tanjore Diocese of the Church of South India . The workforce is predominantly involved in service industry involving trade and commerce. With the expansion of the city area, the opportunities for agriculture is limited and only 7% of the population is involved in it. The National Highways NH 83 and NH 36 pass through Thanjavur and NH 136 and NH 67 connect Thanjavur respectively with Perambalur and Thiruvurur . The city
3468-678: The Sangam period (third century BCE to fourth century CE) Tamil records, though some scholars believe that the city has existed since that time. Kovil Venni , situated 15 miles (24 km) to the east of the city, was the site of the Battle of Venni between the Chola king Karikala and a confederacy of the Cheras and the Pandyas . The Cholas seemed to have faced an invasion of the Kalabhras in
3570-709: The Thanjavur State Assembly Constituency and it elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years. From the 1977 elections, the assembly seat was won by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) six times during the 1977, 1980, 1989, 1996, 2001 and 2006 elections, the Indian National Congress party once during the 1984 elections and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) twice during
3672-720: The 1991 and 2011 elections. M. Karunanidhi , who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a record five terms, was elected from the Thanjavur assembly constituency in the 1962 elections. Thanjavur is also a part of the Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency and elects a member to the Lok Sabha , the lower house of the Parliament of India , once every five years. The Lok Sabha seat has been held by
3774-643: The Armies met at the Toppur, at an open field on the northern banks of River Cauvery , between Tiruchirappalli and Grand Anicut in late months of 1616. The huge assembly of forces on either side is estimated to be as many as a million soldiers (according to Dr. Barradas in Sewell's Book) and considered to be one of the biggest battles in southern India. In the Battle Jagga Raya's troops could not withstand
3876-708: The Colombo province in Ceylon and the entire West Coast of India. The King of Jaffna kingdom went into a war against Portugal against the methods adopted by the missionary conversions in Jaffna. Later King of Jaffna sought help from the Tanjore Nayaks in repelling Portuguese advances through many battles Achuthappa Nayak was deeply religious from his young days and the fertile nature of his country helped him make large contributions in gifts and infrastructure to major Temples and also important irrigation systems. The main benefactor
3978-539: The Computer Wing. All these departments are under the control of a Municipal Commissioner who is the supreme executive head. The legislative powers are vested in a body of 52 members, one each from the 52 wards. The legislative body is headed by an elected chairperson assisted by a deputy chairperson. On 10 April 2013, the state government announced in the Assembly that Thanjavur municipality will be upgraded to
4080-553: The Diocese of Thanjavur, is one of the oldest schools in Thanjavur district. Christian Missionaries played a prominent role in promoting English education in Thanjavur. Kalyanasundaram Higher Secondary School, established in 1891, is one of the oldest schools in the city. Electricity supply to Thanjavur is regulated and distributed by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The city along with its suburbs
4182-588: The English to seek trade with the Thanjavur Nayaks. The Tanjore cannon or Raghunatha cannon, supposed to be the largest cannon in the world was installed during Raghunatha Nayak, built with Danish metallurgy know how. Raghunatha was a gifted scholar in Sanskrit , Kannada and Telugu languages , as well as a talented musician. His court was distinguished for its assembly of poets and scholars. Ragunatha
Thanjavur Nayak kingdom - Misplaced Pages Continue
4284-644: The Goodagopuram. Punnainallur Mariamman temple is about 7 km from Brihadeeswara temple. This temple was built by the first Maratha king of Thanjavur Venkoji in the year 1680. The Saraswathi Mahal Library , established around 1700 and located in the premises of the palace, contains over 30,000 Indian and European manuscripts written on palm leaf and paper. Over eighty per cent of its manuscripts are in Sanskrit and many of them are on palm leaves. The Tamil works include treatises on medicine, and commentaries on Sangam literature . The Rajaraja Chola art gallery
4386-766: The Pushyamantapas (Halls) with steps leading to river Cauvery in Mayavaram , Tiruvidaimarudur , Tiruvadi and Kumbakonam and Golden Kalasas of Tiruvannamalai Temple Gopurams (Towers) some of the Gopurams in Rameswaram. Several temples in Arcot and Tanjore regions namely Temples in Tiruvidaimarudur and Chidambaram received villages as grants. His one remarkable contribution is the construction of
4488-745: The Tamil University premises, the Saraswathi Mahal Library Museum located inside the Saraswathi Mahal, Nayak Durbar Hall Art Museum and Rajaraja Chola Museum. Raja Rajan Manimandapam is one of the tourist attractions in Thanjavur, built during the Thanjavur Tamil Conference in 1991. "Sangeetha Mahal" has a permanent handicrafts exhibition centre. Thanjavur is the cradle for many of the arts and crafts in South India. Carnatic music
4590-550: The Tanjore kingdom, Sevappa had distinguished himself under Krishnadavaraya as an administrator and a builder. Sevappa's wife Murtimamba was the sister-in-law of Achyuta Deva Raya and the sister of the Vijayanagara Queen, Thirumalamba. Some sources suggest that Sevappa acquired the Thanjavur Kingdom as Stridhana from Achyutadeva Raya. Sevappa was also a ceremonial betel bearer to Achyuta Deva Raya ,
4692-762: The Thanjavur Telecom circle of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's state-owned telecom and internet services provider. Apart from telecom, BSNL also provides broadband internet service. The Regional Passport office, Trichy, operates a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Thanjavur, which PSK covers the Nagappattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Ariyalur revenue districts. Some villages around Thanjavur city and comes under Thanjavur metropolitan area are Govinda Dikshitar Govinda Dikshita (Dikshitar)
4794-562: The University Grants Commission in 1983. It is the only one of its kind for the Tamil language doing higher research in Tamilology and advanced study in various allied branches like linguistics, translation, lexicography, music, drama and manuscriptology. Thanjavur has a total of 15 arts, science & management colleges and nine engineering colleges. The Thanjavur Medical College was established in 1961 and
4896-427: The Vijayanagar viceroy of Arcot, established himself as an independent monarch in 1532 (1549, according to some sources) and founded the Thanjavur Nayak kingdom . Achuthappa Nayak (1560–1614), Raghunatha Nayak (1600–34) and Vijaya Raghava Nayak (1634–73) are some of the important rulers of the Nayak dynasty who ruled Thanjavur. Thanjavur Nayaks were notable for their patronage of literature and arts. The rule of
4998-482: The Vijaynagar as his authority. Jagga Raya assembled a large army near Tiruchirappalli , the capital of Muttu Virappa comprising the armies of Gingee , Chera , Madurai , and some Portuguese from the coast. Yachama led the forces of Vijayanagara and Kalahasti from Vellore and was joined midway by Tanjore forces headed by Raghunatha.Yachama's army was further strengthened by nobles from Karnataka and (according to some accounts) Dutch and Jaffna armies. Both
5100-441: The aggression generated by the imperial forces. Yachama and Raghunatha, the generals of the imperial camp led their forces with great discipline. Jagga Raya was slain by Yachama, and his army broke the ranks and took flight. Yethiraja, the brother of Jagga Raya, had to run for his life. Muttu Virappa tried to escape, he was pursued by Yachama's general Rao Dama Nayani who captured him near Tiruchirapalli . The Nayak of Gingee in
5202-421: The brother and successor of Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara Empire, granted Sevappa Nayak , the governor of Thanjavur, the permission to establish a feudatory kingdom. The Thanjavur Nayaks had their origins in the Balija warrior clans of present-day Andhra Pradesh . According to the Tiruvanamalai Temple inscription ( A.D. 1556 ) mentions the Thanjavur Nayak kings belonged to the Kavarai community. Kavarai
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#17327754853105304-409: The brother of Krishnadevaraya . According to the M. Anant Narayan Rao, the "position of a ceremonial betel bearer or adaiappan ( thambul karandivan ) was a post given to a very trusted subordinate and Sevappa being a powerful and influential man of the locality was appointed the first Nayak of Thanjavur". The position of a betel bearer was usually not given to an outsider, as this position would make
5406-504: The capital of the empire. After the fall of the Cholas, the city was ruled by various dynasties such as the Mutharaiyar dynasty , the Pandyas , the Vijayanagar Empire , the Madurai Nayaks , the Thanjavur Nayaks , the Thanjavur Marathas and the British Empire . It has been a part of independent India since 1947. The city's name is believed to be derived from a portmanteau of "thanjam puguntha oor" ( Tamil : தஞ்சம் புகுந்த ஊர் ) which means "the town where refugees entered", referring to
5508-410: The city is 36.33 km (14.03 sq mi). The period from November to February in Thanjavur is pleasant, with a climate full of warm days and cool nights. The onset of summer is from March, with the mercury reaching its peak by the end of May and June. The average temperatures range from 81 °F (27 °C) in January to 97 °F (36 °C) in May and June. Summer rains are sparse and
5610-491: The city to towns like Thiruvarur , Nagapattinam , Karaikal , Tiruchirapalli , Kumbakonam , Mayiladuthurai and Nagore , hubbali . In the early 1990s, Thanjavur was connected with Chennai via the Vayudoot flight service, which was stopped due to poor patronage. A full-fledged air force station is operational at Thanjavur. Thanjavur Air Force Station was to become a major air base by 2012, to handle Fighter , Transport aircraft and also refuelling aircraft. However,
5712-412: The city. Almond cultivation has been gaining popularity in Thanjavur, a district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The region's warm and dry climate, coupled with fertile soil, provides ideal conditions for growing almonds. The almonds produced in Thanjavur are known for their high quality and rich flavor. The trees bloom in early spring with pink and white flowers, and the nuts are ready for harvest in
5814-430: The city. There are 20 registered schools in Thanjavur, catering to the primary, secondary and higher secondary educational needs of the city. St. Peter's Higher Secondary School at Thanjavur was established by Rev. C F Schwartz during 1784. Originally established as a college, it was the first school in South India which taught English to the local populace. St. Antony's Higher Secondary School , established in 1885 by
5916-562: The city. Thanjavur painting is a major form of classical South Indian painting from Thanjavur. It dates back to about the 1600s, the period of Nayakas of Thanjavur, who encouraged art, classical dance and music literature, both in Telugu and Tamil. The art is usually a combination of raised and painted surfaces, with the Hindu god Krishna being the most popular image depicted. In modern times, these paintings have become souvenirs of festive occasions in South India, wall decors, and collectors' items for art lovers. The major occupation of
6018-441: The city. Thanjavur farmers insure additional 2.5 lakh acres in 10 days, but acreage still lower than last year. According to 2011 census , Thanjavur had a population of 222,943 with a sex-ratio of 1,042 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 19,860 were under the age of six, constituting 10,237 males and 9,623 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 9.22% and .21% of
6120-406: The dynasty came to an end when Thanjavur fell to the Madurai Nayak king Chokkanatha Nayak (1662–82) in 1673. Vijaya Raghunatha Nayak, the son of Chokkanatha, was killed in a battle and Chokkanatha's brother Alagiri Nayak (1673–75) was crowned as the ruler of the empire. Most of palayakkars in Thanjavur from Kallar caste. The Kallar held larger and richer estates than the Nayak. Thanjavur
6222-457: The early 19th century. To the south of Thanjavur city, is the Vallam tableland , a small plateau interspersed at regular intervals by ridges of sandstone . The nearest seaport is Nagapattinam which is 84 km (52 mi) east of Thanjavur. The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli International Airport , located at a distance of 56 km (35 mi). The city has an elevation of 59 m (194 ft) above mean sea level. The total area of
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#17327754853106324-466: The emergence of Gangaikonda Cholapuram in about 1025. During the first decade of the eleventh century, the Chola king Raja Raja Chola I (985–1014) constructed the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur. The temple is considered to be one of the best specimens of Tamil architecture. When the Chola Empire began to decline in the 13th century, the Pandyas from the south invaded and captured Thanjavur twice, first between 1218–19 and again in 1230. During
6426-402: The fall. The almond crop in Thanjavur has become an important source of income for local farmers and has contributed to the region's agricultural diversity. Thanjavur is an important centre of silk weaving in Tamil Nadu. There were 200 silk weaving units in the city in 1991 with around 80,000 people working in them. Thanjavur is also famous for the 'Thalaiyatti bommai' or 'Dancing dolls' which
6528-402: The first monsoon, the South-West monsoon , commences in June and continues till September. North-East monsoon begins in October and continues till January. The rainfall during the South-West monsoon period is much lower than that of the North-East monsoon. The North-East monsoon is beneficial to the district at large because of the heavy rainfall and the Western ghats (mountain ranges) feeding
6630-448: The fort walls by cannons. But Chokkanatha Nayak was thwarted in his attempts by Vijaya Ragava Nayak, when he, in a gruesome act of defiance, blew up his daughter and all the other ladies of the palace. He then charged at the attacking army with his son and his body-guard. He was captured after a brief fight, and was beheaded by the Madurai General Samukham Venkata Krishnappa Nayak. Chokkanatha placed his younger brother Alagiri Nayak on
6732-424: The health care needs of the citizens. There are a total of 9,745 street lamps: 492 sodium lamps, 2,061 mercury vapour lamps, 7,180 tube lights and twelve high-mast beam lamps. The corporation operates three markets, namely the Serfoji Market, Amarar Swaminathan Market and Kamaraj Market and another market, the Subramaniya Swami Koil Market, is maintained by the Subramania Swami Temple authority. Thanjavur comes under
6834-413: The high privilege of serving him as a door keeper (vasal) and was the emperor's dalavay (commander) who took part in the Raichur campaign. According to historian V. Vriddhagirisan, Timmappa Nayak was the brother of Nagama Nayak. Nagama Nayak was the father of Visvanatha Nayak (founder of the Madurai Nayak dynastic line). Hence Viswanatha Nayak and Sevappa Nayak were the cousins. Before assuming power of
6936-407: The inauguration of the Thanjavur Air Force Station took place on 27 May 2013. The Thanjavur Air Force Station bases a squadron of its Sukhoi Su-30 Supermaneuverability Fighter aircraft at Thanjavur, making it the first fighter squadron in Tamil Nadu. The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli International Airport . The nearest Seaport is located at Nagapattinam . The municipality of Tanjore
7038-671: The inhabitants of the city is tourism and service-oriented industry, while the traditional occupation is agriculture. Thanjavur is known as the "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu". Paddy (unmilled rice) is the crop and the other crops grown are blackgram , banana , coconut , gingelly , ragi , red gram , green gram , sugarcane and maize . The total percentage of land fit for cultivation is 58%. There are three seasons for agriculture in Thanjavur – Kuruvai (June to September), Samba (August to January) and Thaladi (September, October to February, March). The total rice production has been maintained at 10.615 L.M.T and 7.077 L.M.T. The city acts as
7140-426: The last Thanjavur Maratha ruler, died without a legitimate male heir. The British referred to the city as Tanjore in their records. Five years after its annexation, the British replaced Negapatam (modern-day Nagapattinam ) with Thanjavur as the seat of the district administration. Under the British, Thanjavur emerged as an important regional centre. The 1871 India census recorded a population of 52,171, making Thanjavur
7242-415: The man privy to all of the king's personal details. Therefore, the position was usually given to a trusted member within the family. His contributions include building the prakaras at the temples of Vridhachalam and Kanchipuram, gilding the Vimanas of Srisailam and Thirumala (Tirupati) temples with gold, construction of the tallest temple tower (gopuram) at Tiruvannamalai, and repairing the Sivaganga Fort and
7344-629: The mid-15th century they became an independent kingdom, although they continued their alliance with the Vijayanagara Empire. The Thanjavur Nayaks were notable for their patronage of literature and the arts. With the end of the Chola Empire in 1279, Thanjavur was ruled by a branch of Chola dynasty, until the Vijayanagara Empire conquered all of southern India by the late 14th century. In 1532 CE, Achyuta Deva Raya ,
7446-419: The name of a Mutharayar king, "Thananjay" or "Dhananjaya". Thananjaya added to Oor gives the name Thanjavur. The Kalamalla stone inscription (the first stone inscription) was made by the king, Erikal Muthuraju Dhanunjaya Varma of 575 CE. This place was previously called Śiyāli . Indra once fled to this place in fear of the asura called Śūrapadma and did tapas here. There are no references to Thanjavur in
7548-486: The others being Ramamatya and Somanatha. The Nayaks brought with them the glorious tradition of their country to the fertile regions of river Cauvery . The Nayaks donated an entire village to 500 Brahmin families for fostering art and learning. Other fertile villages were encouraged to become seats of music and learning as Nayaks gave them to Telugu families. Muvanallur, Tepperumanallur, Sulamangalam, Uthukadu and Saliyamangalam can be cited as examples. Govinda Dikshita
7650-447: The population respectively. The average literacy of the city was 83.14%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. There were a total of 78,005 workers, comprising 803 cultivators, 2,331 main agricultural labourers, 2,746 in house hold industries, 65,211 other workers, 6,914 marginal workers, 110 marginal cultivators, 235 marginal agricultural labourers, 322 marginal workers in household industries and 6,247 other marginal workers. As per
7752-713: The previous ruler Venkata II's favourite Queen Obayamma claimed her putative son as the King and murdered Sriranga II along with his family in the Vellore Prison. Jagga Raya was strongly challenged by Yachamanedu, the chief of Kalahasti who claimed the throne for Rama Deva, the rightful heir whom he had smuggled out from the Vellore Prison. Jagga Raya sought help from the Gingee Nayak and Muttu Virappa of Madurai to attack Yachamanedu and Rama Deva. Yachamanedu and Ramadeva sought support from Raghunatha, who still treated
7854-533: The regent of Thanjavur, deposed the minor Raja, his nephew Serfoji II (1787–93) and captured the throne. Serfoji II was restored in 1799 with the assistance of the British , who induced him to relinquish the administration of the kingdom and left him in charge of Thanjavur fort and surrounding areas. The kingdom was eventually absorbed into British India in 1855 by the Doctrine of Lapse when Shivaji II (1832–55),
7956-650: The religious census of 2011, Thanjavur (M) had 82.87% Hindus , 8.34% Muslims , 8.58% Christians , 0.01% Sikhs , 0.01% Buddhists , 0.06% Jains , 0.11% following other religions and 0.01% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference. As of 2008, a total 2,013.34 ha (4,975.1 acres) (55.4%) of the land was used for residential, 11.32 ha (28.0 acres) (3.06%) for commercial, 82.68 ha (204.3 acres) (2.28%) for industrial, 320.2 ha (791 acres) (8.81%) for public & semi public, 108.11 ha (267.1 acres) (2.98%) for educational and 996.85 ha (2,463.3 acres) (27.47%) for agriculture. Tamil
8058-633: The river Cauvery. The average rainfall is 37 inches (940 mm), most of which is contributed by the North-East monsoon. Thanjavur is an important pilgrim centre and a major tourist destination of Tamil Nadu. South Zone Culture Centre in Thanjavur is one of the regional cultural centres established by the Government of India to preserve and promote cultural heritage of India. There were 2,002,225 Indian and 81,435 foreign tourist arrivals in 2009 to Thanjavur. The most visited monument in Thanjavur
8160-682: The rulers of the Thanjavur Nayak kingdom and after their fall, it served as the official residence of the Thanjavur Marathas. When most of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom was annexed by the British Empire in 1799, the Thanjavur Marathas continued to hold sway over the palace and the surrounding fort. The southern side of the third quadrangle of the palace has a 190 ft (58 m) tower-like building, called
8262-616: The second invasion, the Chola king Rajaraja III (1216–56) was exiled and he sought the help of the Hoysala king Vira Narasimha II (1220–35) to regain Thanjavur. Thanjavur was eventually annexed along with the rest of the Chola kingdom by the Pandya king Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I (1268–1308) in 1279 and the Chola kings were forced to accept the suzerainty of the Pandyas. The Pandyas ruled Thanjavur from 1279 to 1311 when their kingdom
8364-684: The source segregation and dumping is carried out by the sanitary department of the Thanjavur Corporation. The coverage of solid waste management had an efficiency of 100% as of 2001. The underground drainage system covers 70% of the city and the remaining sewerage system for disposal of sullage is through septic tanks, open drains and public conveniences. The corporation maintains a total of 155 km (96 mi) of storm water drains: 53.27 km (33.10 mi) surfaced drains and 101.73 km (63.21 mi) unlined drains. Neo tidel park announced in newly added city pillayarpatti There are 37 hospitals and seven clinical labs in Thanjavur that take care of
8466-467: The tank at Tanjore. Sevappa's son, Achuthappa Nayak (1560–1614), was named in memory of Achyuta Deva Raya. He led a peaceful reign of 54 years. Up until 1580 Achuthappa Nayak co-ruled with his father under the Yuvaraja title while immediately after that he was joined by his heir, son Raghunatha Nayak. He was said to be deeply religious and was well considered a master in the art of warfare. His minister
8568-594: The third century CE after which the kingdom faded into obscurity. The region around present day Thanjavur was conquered by the Mutharayars during the sixth century, who ruled it up to 849. The Cholas came to prominence once more through the rise of the Medieval Chola monarch Vijayalaya (841–878 CE) in about 850 CE. Vijayalaya conquered Thanjavur from the Mutharayar king Elango Mutharayar and built
8670-528: The third largest city in the Madras Presidency . After India's independence, Thanjavur continued as the district headquarters. Thanjavur is located at 10°48′N 79°09′E / 10.8°N 79.15°E / 10.8; 79.15 The tributaries of river Cauvery , namely, the Grand Anaicut canal ( Pudhaaru ), Vadavaaru and Vennaaru rivers flow through the city. Thanjavur
8772-727: The throne of Thanjavur, but within a year the latter threw off his allegiance, and Chokkanatha was forced to recognise the independence of Thanjavur. Chengamala Das, the son of Vijaya Raghava induced the Bijapur Sultan to help him get back the Thanjavur throne. In 1675, the Sultan of Bijapur sent a force commanded by the Maratha general Venkoji (alias Ekoji) to drive away the Madurai usurper. Venkaji defeated Alagiri with ease, and occupied Thanjavur. He did not, however, place his protege on
8874-525: The throne, but seized the kingdom and made himself king due to the disintegration of the Bijapur state. Thus ended the reign of Nayaks and the start of Maratha power in Thanjavur. Thanjavur Thanjavur ( Tamil: [t̪aɲdʑaːʋuːɾ] ), also known as Thanjai , previously known as Tanjore , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu . It is the 12th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur
8976-535: The town's history of providing hospitality to newcomers. According to another local legend, the name "Thanjavur" originated from "Tanjan," an Asura (demon) who was slain on the site. In Hindu mythology , Tanjan requested the establishment of a beautiful city at the place where he was defeated. Later, the Asura was vanquished in what is now Thanjavur by the Hindu god Neelamegha Perumal , an incarnation of Vishnu . The city's name "Thanjavur" might also be derived from
9078-413: The war lost all his forts except Gingee Fort and the putative son of Venkata II , cause of all trouble was captured. The Victory was celebrated by the imperial armies headed by Raghunatha and Yachamanedu, who planted pillars of Victory and crowned Rama Deva as Rama Deva Raya, in early months of 1617. Rama Deva Raya was barely 15 years old when he ascended the throne. Vijaya Raghava Nayak (1634–1673),
9180-808: Was Govinda Dikshitar , a great scholar and a shrewd administrator. His long reign was of comparative peace apart from the internal struggles enabling him to contribute much to spiritual and public utility development. During the reign of Achuthappa, the Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by the Deccan sultanates armies at the battle of Talikota . Later when the Vijaynagara rulers re-established their capital in Chandragiri and Vellore under Sriranga Rayas, Achuthappa Nayak continued his loyalty while Gingee and Madurai Nayaks intended to break free by refusing to pay tribute. This would also lead to bitter animosity between
9282-604: Was codified in Thanjavur and the art flourished during the Nayak rule in the 16th century. Bharathanatyam , a classical dance form of South India, had its major styles developed in Thanjavur. Sathaya Thiruvizha is the annual birthday festival of Raja Raja Chola held during October every year. Thanjavur is the base for the Tyagaraja Aradhana , a Carnatic music festival held annually during January – February at Thiruvaiyaru , located 13 km (8.1 mi) away from
9384-503: Was created in 1866 as a third grade municipality as per Town Improvements Act 1865 and initially consisted of 12 members. The number was increased to 18 in 1879 and 24 in 1883. In 1897, the members were empowered to elect a Municipal Chairperson to lead them. Tanjore was upgraded to a second grade municipality in 1933, first grade in 1943 and a special grade in 1983. The functions of the municipality are devolved into six departments: General, Engineering, Revenue, Public Health, Town planning and
9486-621: Was during Raghunatha's reign that a palace library was established. Sarasvati Bhandar is where the manuscripts of Raghunatha's prolific court scholars were collected and preserved. This library was developed and enriched later by Rajah Serfoji II into the currently famous Saraswati Mahal Library . During Raghunatha's rule, a civil war involving succession to the throne was taking place in the Vijayanagara Kingdom, now based in Vellore and Chandragiri. Gobburi Jagga Raya, brother of
9588-645: Was elected from the Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency in the 1951 elections. Law and order in the city is maintained by the Thanjavur subdivision of the Tamil Nadu Police , headed by a Deputy Superintendent (DSP). The Thanjavur district level police administration is headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, whose office is located in the city. There are six police stations in the city, one of them being an all-women police station. Some special units include prohibition enforcement, district crime, social justice and human rights, district crime records and
9690-805: Was raided by the forces of Malik Kafur (1296–1306) and later annexed by the Delhi Sultanate . The Sultanate extended its authority directly over the conquered regions from 1311 to 1335 and then through the semi-independent Ma'bar Sultanate from 1335 to 1378. Starting from the 1350s, the Ma'bar Sultanate was steadily absorbed into the rising Vijayanagar Empire . Thanjavur is believed to have been conquered by Kampanna Udayar during his invasion of Srirangam between 1365 and 1371. Deva Raya's inscription dated 1443, Thirumala's inscription dated 1455 and Achuta Deva's land grants dated 1532 and 1539 attest Vijayanagar's dominance over Thanjavur. Sevappa Nayak (1532–80),
9792-555: Was sadly brought to an abrupt end by Chokkanatha Nayak of Madurai. The end of the Thanjavur Nayak dynasty was brought on by Chokkanatha Nayak , the Nayak of Madurai . The dispute was due to the refusal of Vijaya Ragava Nayak to give his daughter in marriage to Chokkanatha Nayak. Chokkantha determined to fetch the maiden by force back into their capital, successfully stormed the Thanjavur palace in 1673 after flattening much of
9894-580: Was successfully conquered in 1674 by Ekoji I (1675–84), the Maratha feudatory of the sultan of Bijapur and half-brother of Shivaji (1627/30-80) of the Bhonsle dynasty. Ekoji founded the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom which ruled Thanjavur till 1855. The Marathas exercised their sovereignty over Thanjavur throughout the last quarter of the 17th and the whole of the 18th century. The Maratha rulers patronized Carnatic music . In 1787, Amar Singh,
9996-623: Was the Srirangam Temple. His assistant and advisor was his minister Govinda Dikshita. The Srirangam Temple towers (Gopurams) of the North and West and the eighth Prakara (temple Wall Street) and several Halls (Mandapam) inside the Temple complex were built by him. The Golden Vimana of the inner most shrines (Temple Flag) and the image of God studded with Crown jewels was presented by Achuthappa Nayak. His other major contributions include
10098-592: Was the father of another musicologist, Venkatamakhin , who is noted for his Chaturdandiprakashika , a treatise which formed the basis of the melakarta system of classification used in Carnatic music today. Dikshita is believed to have constructed the Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam . In 1620, when Govinda Dikshita, divan-administrator for the Nayaks , constructed the Ramaswamy Temple, Kumbakonam , he added
10200-543: Was the first Thanjavur Nayak king. He was the son of Timmappa Nayak, a Vijayanagara viceroy in the Arcot region through his wife Bayyambika. The work Raghunathabhyudayam written by Vijayaraghava Nayaka gives some genealogical details of Timmappa. Timmappa or Timmabhupati was the ruler of North Arcot with his capital at Nedungunram. The epigraphs of all of the Tanjore Nayaks show that they belonged to Nedungunram. One of Krishnadevaraya's epigraphs mentions that Timmappa also had
10302-648: Was the last of the Nayak Kings of Thanjavur. He was also called Mannaru Dasa ; and like the rest of his family, he built prakaras, gopurams, mandapams and tanks in the Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy temple. Vijayaraghava's long reign witnessed a large amount of literary output both in music and Telugu literature. Vijayaraghava's court had a number of poets and literary scholars. Vijayaraghava Nayak wrote more than thirty books in Telugu. His long reign
10404-600: Was the minister of three successive Nayaks of Thanjavur , who ruled the region of Thanjavur in South India between the 16th and 17th centuries CE. Govinda Dikshita was a scholar, philosopher, statesman and musicologist. He was a Kannadiga (native Kannada language speaker) belonging to the Hoysala Karnataka Brahmin community, although he served as a minister in the region of Thanjavur under Achuthappa Nayak and Raghunatha Nayak . He lived in
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