Thanjavur which has innumerable temples and immense tradition generally not only constitutes a place of tour and travel but also is a door to the scenic beauty of the peninsula. While the city itself is famous for the stunning building of the Brihadeeswara Temple, with the area around Thanjavur being quite picturesque and interesting to explore, including beautiful nature, impressive historical sites, and unique tourist attractions. In search of spirituality or some quiet time, one cannot but find a lot of places near Thanjavur, which will suit the purpose well. This blog is going to outline the outstanding places of tourist interest around Thanjavur and why these places are worth your while.
Thanjavur is the city with immense historical and cultural importance adding up to the list of being a prominent city of Tamil Nadu. These features make it an attractive destination; its temples, arts and traditions. However, the experiences do not just start and end in the city, or at least they should not. The tourist places near Thanjavur are equally interesting and souvenir the beauty of South India along with the spiritual planes. The regions around Thanjavur are replete with historic structures, beautiful rivers, and beautiful landscapes, and divine temples.
Why Explore Tourist Places Around Thanjavur ?
With nature lovers, history lovers, and anyone in search of tranquility, there are places near Thanjavur to meet everyone’s expectations. Now let me tour you through the most popular destinations nearby Thanjavur that you might visit on your next outing.
1. Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam is one of the most famous places near Thanjavur. It is a town just 40 kilometers from Thanjavur and is an extremely famous temple town of South India. Meenakshi Sambi is also called the “Temple town” since there are more ancient temples in it dedicated to different gods and goddesses. The most famous temples are Adi Kumbeswarar Temple and Sarangapani Temple. Beneath the festivities, Kumbakonam is also famous for its special filter coffee and brassware, making the place ideal to shop for trinkets from.
2. Darasuram
Airavatesvara Temple which is located at Darasuram about thirty four kilometers from Thanjavur is certainly one of the best places near Thanjavur. The temple is a remarkable example of Chola period, fine carving and sculpture are seen on this temple precinct. It is one of the hidden attractions among the places to visit that are near Thanjavur and is ideal for those people who like to wander on historical sites without much crowd.
3. Swamimalai
Another place of worship is Swamimalai which is 32 kms from thanjavur. Located on the eastern coast of Tamilnadu is one of the six Arupadaiveedu of Lord Murugan other associated with this deity. But apart from the temple, Swamimalai is one of the famous places near Thanjavur for its age-old art of making bronze idols which is still followed in the locality. If you have a passion for arts, then this tourist place near Thanjavur should be at the top of your list.
4. Trichy (Tiruchirappalli)
Alone 58 kilometers from Thanjavur lies Trichy, a city of a blend of heritage and contemporary sightseeing, making it one of the perfect places near Thanjavur. The Rockfort Temple itself is one of the principal attractions this city has to offer; it is built on one huge rock which provides for a breathtaking view of the area. Trichy also hosts one of the largest temples of India namely Srirangam Temple floated on the River Cauvery, this is a Temple for Lord Vishnu. This city is one of the most vibrant and populated in the region, it provides a great mix of the classic colors of Thanjavur and the contemporary touch, making it one of the best places to visit nearby.
5. Thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru is only 13 km from thanjavur which has a specially significant relation with Saint Thyagaraja, one of the biggest composers of Music Carnatica. Sannidhi Annual Thyagaraja Aradhana festival event held every year in January attracts a large number of music lovers all across the country making this place one of the most famous places near Thanjavur. Beside the music treasure, the town also consists of the historic temple known as Panchanadeeswarar Temple, so this place is among the best tourist places to visit near Thanjavur.
6. Papanasam
Papanasam is about 60 Kms from Thanjavur which has beautiful waterfalls and the temple called Agasthiyar temple. The town got its name based on the local folk belief that in the waters of the river close by it is possible to wash away sin (papanasam means sin destroying). The beautiful environment also coupled with its religious importance make it to be among the best travel places near Thanjavur for anybody who is searching for attractions around Thanjavur.
7. Mannargudi
40 KMs away from Thanjavur lies Mannargudi which is one of the most famous places near Thanjavur for the Rajagopalaswamy Temple, one of the largest Lord Krishna Temples of South India. This site has many followers since it is an architectural marvel with a great history as a temple. The locality of Mannargudi also supports the local tedious culture and natural environment which also helps to gain the position as one of the famous tourist attractions in Thanjavur.
8. Thiruvarur
Located around 60 km from Thanjavur, the town of Thiruvarur has been famous for temple architectures and places of worship. Here the main center of tourist attraction is the Thiyagaraja Temple known for Lord Shiva. The Car festival celebrated in Thiruvarur every year is one of the major temple festivals. There is a massive pivot of people thronging the place for believing in the deity as well as for fun and tourism. It is also the best place for South Indian temple culture and festive tourism.
9. Velankanni
The Pushpavanam, situated 90 kilometers away from Thanjavur district is a prominent Christian shrine town for Velankanni. The biggest Catholic shrine here is the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health and thousands of devotees visit the Church annually. St. Velankanni is famous for its quiet and beautiful sandy coastline attracting traveler’s interest. It's the place of peace among the places near Thanjavur.
10. Nagapattinam
Nagapattinam is 85 Km away from Thanjavur and is one of the biggest seaside towns of Tamil Nadu famous for its virgin beaches and historical temples. It also occupies an important position in the micro Tamil history and is one of the major religious points of interest that includes Hindus and Christianities. In Spite of being a commercial center, Nagapattinam is one of the tourist places near Thanjavur if you prefer to blend your spirituality with the sea.
Conclusion
As mentioned before, Thanjavur is surrounded by some wonderful places that are culturally rich, spiritually appealing as well as blessed with natural resources. With beautiful temples, spectacular geographical features and colorful customs, the tourist places near Thanjavur offer something to each tourist.
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FAQs:
1. Is it the best time to visit the places near Thanjavur?
Thanjavur is well connected by rail, road and airways and the ideal time for visiting tourists places in and around Thanjavur are from November to February.
2. What is the distance between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur?
It is forty kilometers from Thanjavur and therefore it is possible to visit it in a day’s tour.
3. Is there any beach close to thanjavur?
Nagapattinam and Velankanni are the seaside tourist places near to Thanjavur District which also provide beautiful sea beach facilities.
4. Which is Swamimalai famous for?
Swamimalai is famous for the temple of Lord Murugan and bronzes.
5. During the Thyagaraja Aradhana festival, is it possible to go to Thiruvaiyaru?
Yes, Thiruvaiyaru is well known for this music festival, generally held in the January period every year which attracts music lovers from every corner of India.