Thanjavur Tour Packages
Thanjavur was the capital of the great Chola dynasty, and its Brihadeeswarar Temple, completed in 1010, is a masterpiece of granite engineering and part of the UNESCO Great Living Chola Temples.
Thanjavur at a glance
- LocationTamil Nadu, India
- Time zoneIndian Standard Time (UTC+5:30)
- Driving sideLeft
- Calling code+91
- CurrencyIndian rupee (INR)
- LanguagesTamil
- Ideal stay1–2 days
- Getting thereTiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ)…
Best time to visit: October to March
Top Thanjavur travel packages
A few of our Thanjavur itineraries in different travel styles. Every one is private and can be changed to suit you.
Pilgrimage toursChennai · Kanchipuram · Thanjavur ·…Temples of Tamil Nadu8 Days | 7 Nights
Cultural holidaysThanjavur · MaduraiChola Heritage Trail4 Days | 3 Nights
Cultural holidaysChennai · Mahabalipuram · Puducherry ·…Tamil Nadu Grand Tour11 Days | 10 Nights
Pilgrimage toursThanjavur · VelankanniVelankanni, Nagore & Thanjavur4 Days | 3 NightsEssential tips for travelling to Thanjavur
UPI and cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels; keep some cash for small shops, rural areas, hill towns and tips.
Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Drink bottled or filtered water; it is cheap and easy to find.
112 (all emergencies)
Languages spoken: Tamil.
Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Thoothukudi have airports. Trains link every major town, and a car with driver is the easiest way to string temples together.
Most large temples ask men to remove shirts in the inner sanctum and everyone to remove footwear; carry socks for hot stone floors.
Temple inner shrines usually close for a few hours in the early afternoon, so plan visits for the morning or evening.
Visit the Big Temple in the late afternoon when the granite glows and the crowds thin.
General guidance. Local rules and services change; we confirm details for your dates.
Where is Thanjavur?
Who should visit Thanjavur?
Plan your Thanjavur trip
Everything you need to know about Thanjavur
Thanjavur was the capital of the great Chola dynasty, and its Brihadeeswarar Temple, completed in 1010, is a masterpiece of granite engineering and part of the UNESCO Great Living Chola Temples. The town is also known for its bronze casting, painting tradition and classical music.
Highlights include Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur Royal Palace, Saraswathi Mahal Library and Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Local food worth trying: Thanjavur meals on banana leaf, Kumbakonam degree coffee and Ashoka halwa. Plan 1–2 days here; it suits heritage and architecture lovers. Our Thanjavur itineraries run from 4 to 11 days and every one can be changed to suit you.
When to go
October to March. Comfortable weather for temple circuits.
How to reach Thanjavur
- By air: Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ), about 60 km
- By rail: Thanjavur Junction, with trains from Chennai
- By road: About 1 hour from Tiruchirappalli by road
View all Thanjavur packages
Private, customisable itineraries with prices quoted for your dates, hotel category and group size.
8D / 7NChennai · Kanchipuram · Thanjavur · MaduraiTemples of Tamil Nadu
The great temple towns in one week: Kanchipuram's silk and shrines, the Chola masterpieces around Thanjavur, Madurai's Meenakshi and the corridors of Rameswaram.
View itinerary →
4D / 3NThanjavur · MaduraiChola Heritage Trail
Built for architecture lovers: the Big Temple at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram, then Madurai's palace and evening temple ceremony.
View itinerary →11D / 10NChennai · Mahabalipuram · Puducherry · ThanjavurTamil Nadu Grand Tour
Ten days across the state, from the coast and Pallava monuments through the Chola heartland and Madurai to the Palani and Nilgiri hills.
View itinerary →4D / 3NThanjavur · VelankanniVelankanni, Nagore & Thanjavur
The Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur, then Velankanni's basilica and the Nagore Dargah, three faiths along the Kaveri delta coast.
View itinerary →
9D / 8NKanchipuram · Chidambaram · Kumbakonam · ThanjavurGrand Tamil Nadu Temple Tour
Tamil Nadu's great temples in one journey: Kanchipuram, Chidambaram, the Chola temples of Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, Srirangam, Madurai's Meenakshi and Rameswaram.
View itinerary →5 itineraries
More places in Tamil Nadu
Top things to see in Thanjavur
ThanjavurOne of Asia's oldest libraries with rare manuscripts
ThanjavurIntricately carved Chola temple near Kumbakonam
Cultural experiences in Thanjavur
Heritage and landmarks
ThanjavurThousand-year-old Chola temple with a towering vimana
ThanjavurMaratha-era palace with an art gallery
ThanjavurOne of Asia's oldest libraries with rare manuscripts
ThanjavurSecond great Chola temple, about 70 km away
ThanjavurIntricately carved Chola temple near Kumbakonam
Experiences
- Thanjavur painting and bronze workshops
On the menuFood to try
- Thanjavur meals on banana leaf
- Kumbakonam degree coffee
- Ashoka halwa
Outdoor activities in Thanjavur
Many activities are seasonal. Best time for Thanjavur: October to March. We check operating seasons for your dates.
Thanjavur travel tips
Visa and entry
Indian citizens do not need a visa; carry a government photo ID such as Aadhaar or a passport for hotels and flights.
Health and safety
Travel insurance is a good idea, especially for adventure activities. Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
Currency and tipping
The currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Tipping is not compulsory; around 5–10% in restaurants and a small tip for drivers and guides is appreciated.
Best time to visit
October to March. Comfortable weather for temple circuits.
Getting around
Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Thoothukudi have airports. Trains link every major town, and a car with driver is the easiest way to string temples together.
Local etiquette
- Dress modestly at temples, churches and mosques, and remove footwear where asked.
- Ask before photographing people, and follow photography rules at religious sites and museums.
What to pack
Pack a light jacket or sweater for cool evenings, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and swimwear, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for religious sites and comfortable walking shoes.
Phone and internet
Mobile data is good in towns and cities.
Budget
We don't publish fixed prices because the season, hotel category, flights and group size change the cost. Your written quote lists exactly what is included, so you can compare like for like.
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