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Brihadeshwara Temple & Fort built
by great Chola king in the 10th century it is an outstanding example of
Chola architecture and is listed in world heritage. On the top of the apex
of 63 metres high, a dome is said to be constructed from a single piece of
granite, weighing an estimated 81 tones. The dome was hauled into place
along a 6 km earthwork ramp in a manner similar to the one used by the
Egyptian Pyramids. The temple has been the sense of continuous worship for
over thousand years. Only Hindus are allowed inside. |
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Thanjavur Palace & Museum
the palace near the temple is a vast building of masonry built
by the Nayakas around 1550 and partly by the Maratha. Two of the
palace towers, the Armoury and the observation tower are visible
from all parts of the city. The palace houses an art gallery, a
library and a hall of music.
The art gallery occupies the Nayak Durbar Hall.
It has a superb collection of Chola bronze statues from the 9th
to 12th centuries.
The Saraswati mahal
Library is next door to the gallery. Over 30,000 Indian and
European manuscripts written on palm leaves and paper are
preserved in the Saraswati Mahal Library. |
