Thanjavur Tanjore | |
|---|---|
City | |
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  Thanjavur Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu Show map of Tamil Nadu Thanjavur Thanjavur (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:10°47′13″N79°08′16″E / 10.78694°N 79.13778°E /10.78694; 79.13778 | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thanjavur |
| Region | Cauvery Delta |
| Founded by | Raja Raja Chola - I |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Thanjavur Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Sun.Ramanathan (DMK) since 2022 |
| Area | |
• Total | 36.31 km2 (14.02 sq mi) |
| Elevation 52 | 77 m (253 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 222,943 |
| • Rank | 10th in Tamil Nadu |
| • Density | 6,140/km2 (15,900/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Tanjorean,Thanjavurkaaran |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 613 0XX |
| Telephone code | 04362 |
| Vehicle registration | TN-49 , TN-68 |
| Website | thanjavurcorporation.org |
Thanjavur (Tamil:[t̪aɲdʑaːʋuːɾ]), also known asThanjai, previously known asTanjore,[2] is a city in theIndian state ofTamil Nadu. It is the 12th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center ofsouthern Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of theGreat Living Chola Temples, which areUNESCO World Heritage Monuments, are located in and around Thanjavur. The foremost among these, the Rajarajesvaram orBrihadisvara Temple, built by the Chola emperorRajaraja I, is located in the centre of the city. This temple has one of the largest bull statues (called Nandi[3]) in India carved out of a single granite rock. Thanjavur is also home toTanjore painting, a painting style unique to the region. Thanjavur is the headquarters of theThanjavur District. The city is an important agricultural centre located in theKaveri Delta and is known as theRice bowl of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is administered by amunicipal corporation covering an area of 36.31 km2 (14.02 sq mi) and had a population of 222,943.[4] Roadways are the major means of transportation, while the city also has rail connectivity. The nearest airport isTiruchirapalli International Airport, located 59.6 km (37.0 mi) away from the city. The nearest seaport isKaraikal, which is 94 km (58 mi) away from Thanjavur.The city first rose to prominence during the reign of theCholas when it served as the capital of the empire. After the fall of the Cholas, the city was ruled by various dynasties such as theMutharaiyar dynasty, thePandyas, theVijayanagar Empire, theMadurai Nayaks, theThanjavur Nayaks, theThanjavur Marathas and theBritish Empire. It has been a part of independent India since 1947.
The city's name is believed to be derived from aportmanteau of "thanjam puguntha oor" (Tamil:தஞ்சம் புகுந்த ஊர்) which means "the town where refugees entered", referring to the town's history of providing hospitality to newcomers.
According to another local legend, the name "Thanjavur" originated from "Tanjan," anAsura (demon) who was slain on the site. InHindu 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 godNeelamegha Perumal, an incarnation ofVishnu.[5][6]
The city's name "Thanjavur" might also be derived from the name of aMutharayar 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.[citation needed]
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Though there are no references to Thanjavur in theSangam period (third century BCE to fourth century CE)Tamil records, 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 theBattle of Venni between the Chola kingKarikala and a confederacy of theCheras and thePandyas.[7] The Cholas seemed to have faced an invasion of theKalabhras in the third century CE after which the kingdom faded into obscurity. The region around present day Thanjavur was conquered by theMutharayars during the sixth century, who ruled it up to 849.[citation needed]
TheCholas came to prominence once more through the rise of the medieval Chola monarch Vijayalaya (841–878 CE) in about 850 CE.[8] Vijayalaya conquered Thanjavur from the Mutharayar king Elango Mutharayar and built atemple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Nisumbhasudani.[9] His sonAditya I (871–901) consolidated their hold over the city.[8] TheRashtrakuta kingKrishna II (878–914), a contemporary of the Chola kingParantaka I (907–950), claims to have conquered Thanjavur, but there are no records to support the claim.[10] Gradually, Thanjavur became the most important city in the Chola Empire and remained its capital till the emergence ofGangaikonda Cholapuram in about 1025.[11][12] During the first decade of the eleventh century, the Chola kingRaja Raja Chola I (985–1014) constructed theBrihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur. The temple is considered to be one of the best specimens of Tamil architecture.[13][14][15][16]
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 the second invasion, the Chola kingRajaraja III (1216–56) was exiled and he sought the help of theHoysala kingVira Narasimha II (1220–35) to regain Thanjavur.[17] Thanjavur was eventually annexed along with the rest of the Chola kingdom by the Pandya kingMaravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I (1268–1308) in 1279 and the Chola kings were forced to accept the suzerainty of the Pandyas.[18] The Pandyas ruled Thanjavur from 1279 to 1311 when their kingdom was raided by the forces ofMalik Kafur (1296–1306) and later annexed by theDelhi Sultanate.[19] The Sultanate extended its authority directly over the conquered regions from 1311 to 1335 and then through the semi-independentMa'bar Sultanate from 1335 to 1378. Starting from the 1350s, the Ma'bar Sultanate was steadily absorbed into the risingVijayanagar Empire.[citation needed]
Thanjavur Timeline | ||
1000 — – 1200 — – 1400 — – 1600 — – 1800 — – 2000 — | British | |
An approximate time-scale of Thanjavur rulers. | ||
Thanjavur is believed to have been conquered by Kampanna Udayar during his invasion ofSrirangam 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.[11][19]Sevappa Nayak (1532–80), the Vijayanagar viceroy of Arcot, established himself as an independent monarch in 1532 (1549, according to some sources) and founded theThanjavur Nayak kingdom.[20]Achuthappa Nayak (1560–1614),Raghunatha Nayak (1600–34) andVijaya Raghava Nayak (1634–73) are some of the important rulers of the Nayak dynasty who ruled Thanjavur.[14][21] Thanjavur Nayaks were notable for their patronage of literature and arts.[22] The rule of the dynasty came to an end when Thanjavur fell to the Madurai Nayak kingChokkanatha Nayak (1662–82) in 1673.[14] Vijaya Raghunatha Nayak, the son of Chokkanatha, was killed in a battle and Chokkanatha's brotherAlagiri Nayak (1673–75) was crowned as the ruler of the empire.[23] Most of palayakkars in Thanjavur fromKallar caste. The Kallar held larger and richer estates than the Nayak.[24]
Thanjavur was successfully conquered in 1674 byEkoji I (1675–84), theMaratha feudatory of thesultan of Bijapur and half-brother ofShivaji (1627/30-80) of theBhonsle dynasty. Ekoji founded theThanjavur Maratha kingdom which ruled Thanjavur till 1855.[11][14] The Marathas exercised their sovereignty over Thanjavur throughout the last quarter of the 17th and the whole of the 18th century. The Maratha rulers patronizedCarnatic music. In 1787, Amar Singh, the regent of Thanjavur, deposed the minor Raja, his nephewSerfoji II (1787–93) and captured the throne. Serfoji II was restored in 1799 with the assistance of theBritish, 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 theDoctrine of Lapse whenShivaji II (1832–55), the last Thanjavur Maratha ruler, died without a legitimate male heir. The British referred to the city as Tanjore in their records.[11] Five years after its annexation, the British replaced Negapatam (modern-dayNagapattinam) 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 the third largest city in theMadras Presidency.[25] After India's independence, Thanjavur continued as the district headquarters.[26]
Thanjavur is located at10°48′N79°09′E / 10.8°N 79.15°E /10.8; 79.15[27] The tributaries of riverCauvery, namely, theGrand Anaicut canal (Pudhaaru), Vadavaaru andVennaaru rivers flow through the city. Thanjavur is situated in theCauvery delta, at a distance of 340 km (210 mi) south-west ofChennai and 56 km (35 mi) east ofTiruchirappalli. 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 the early 19th century.[28][29] To the south of Thanjavur city, is theVallam tableland, a small plateau interspersed at regular intervals by ridges ofsandstone.[30] The nearest seaport isNagapattinam which is 84 km (52 mi) east of Thanjavur. The nearest airport isTiruchirapalli 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 the city is 36.33 km2 (14.03 sq mi).[31]
| Climate data for Thanjavur (1991–2020, extremes 1975–1999) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.2 (93.6) | 38.5 (101.3) | 41.4 (106.5) | 43.0 (109.4) | 43.4 (110.1) | 43.0 (109.4) | 41.6 (106.9) | 41.2 (106.2) | 40.2 (104.4) | 40.5 (104.9) | 35.6 (96.1) | 36.0 (96.8) | 43.4 (110.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.2 (86.4) | 32.5 (90.5) | 35.5 (95.9) | 37.4 (99.3) | 38.5 (101.3) | 37.1 (98.8) | 36.3 (97.3) | 35.8 (96.4) | 34.5 (94.1) | 32.2 (90.0) | 29.7 (85.5) | 28.5 (83.3) | 34.3 (93.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20.4 (68.7) | 21.6 (70.9) | 23.1 (73.6) | 26.0 (78.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 26.6 (79.9) | 26.3 (79.3) | 25.7 (78.3) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 22.9 (73.2) | 21.6 (70.9) | 24.1 (75.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 17.1 (62.8) | 16.6 (61.9) | 18.4 (65.1) | 20.5 (68.9) | 21.0 (69.8) | 22.5 (72.5) | 21.5 (70.7) | 21.6 (70.9) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 19.0 (66.2) | 17.0 (62.6) | 16.6 (61.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 10.2 (0.40) | 4.0 (0.16) | 6.9 (0.27) | 24.4 (0.96) | 55.0 (2.17) | 37.7 (1.48) | 46.9 (1.85) | 112.9 (4.44) | 124.4 (4.90) | 203.2 (8.00) | 288.7 (11.37) | 306.8 (12.08) | 1,851.1 (72.88) |
| Average rainy days | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 5.9 | 48.3 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%)(at 17:30IST) | 63 | 53 | 49 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 49 | 52 | 61 | 68 | 75 | 74 | 58 |
| Source 1:India Meteorological Department (humidity 1981-1999)[32][33][34] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:CRIDA[35] | |||||||||||||
The period from November to February in Thanjavur is pleasant, with a climate full of warm days and cool nights.[36] The onset of summer is from March, with the mercury reaching its peak by the end of May and June.[36] 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 the first monsoon, theSouth-West monsoon, commences in June and continues till September. North-East monsoon begins in October and continues till January.[36] The rainfall during the South-West monsoon period is much lower than that of the North-East monsoon.[29] The North-East monsoon is beneficial to the district at large because of the heavy rainfall and the Western ghats (mountain ranges) feeding the river Cauvery.[36] The average rainfall is 37 inches (940 mm), most of which is contributed by the North-East monsoon.[29]
Thanjavur is an important pilgrim centre and a major tourist destination of Tamil Nadu.[37]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.[38] There were 2,002,225 Indian and 81,435 foreign tourist arrivals in 2009 to Thanjavur.[37] The most visited monument in Thanjavur is theBrihadeeswarar Temple, whose construction, the historianPercy Brown described as "a landmark in the evolution of building art in South India".[39][40] Built in the 11th century by the Chola king Raja Raja Chola I (985–1014), the temple is dedicated to the Hindu godShiva.[40] The walls of the sanctum are covered with wall paintings from the Chola and Nayak periods.[41][42][43] The temple was designated aUNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is replicated in theGangaikonda Cholesvarar Temple constructed by Raja Raja's sonRajendra Chola I (1012–44).[40][44] King Raja Raja Chola memorial to have a complete makeover soon in Thanjavur.
TheThanjavur Maratha palace was the official residence of theBhonsle family who ruled over the Thanjavur region from 1674 to 1855. It was originally constructed by the rulers of theThanjavur Nayak kingdom and after their fall, it served as the official residence of the Thanjavur Marathas.[45] 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 the Goodagopuram.[45]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.
TheSaraswathi 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.[46] Over eighty per cent of its manuscripts are inSanskrit and many of them are on palm leaves. The Tamil works include treatises on medicine, and commentaries onSangam literature.[45] The Rajaraja Chola art gallery 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.[47] TheSivaganga 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 a people's park by the Tanjore municipality in 1871–72.[48] It has a collection of plants, animals and birds and serves as a zoo for children within the city.[45]
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Schwartz Church, a historic monument located in the palace garden, was built in 1779 bySerfoji II as a token of affection for Rev. C.V. Schwartz of the Danish Mission.[45] There are five museums in the city, namely: Archeological Museum, Tamil University Museum located with the Tamil University premises, the Saraswathi Mahal Library Museum located inside the Saraswathi Mahal, Nayak Durbar Hall Art Museum and Rajaraja Chola Museum.[45] Raja Rajan Manimandapam is one of the tourist attractions in Thanjavur, built during the Thanjavur Tamil Conference in 1991.[45] "Sangeetha Mahal" has a permanenthandicrafts exhibition centre. Thanjavur is the cradle for many of the arts and crafts in South India.[49]Carnatic music was codified in Thanjavur and the art flourished during the Nayak rule in the 16th century.[50]Bharathanatyam, a classical dance form of South India, had its major styles developed in Thanjavur.[51]
Sathaya Thiruvizha is the annual birthday festival of Raja Raja Chola held during October every year.[52] Thanjavur is the base for theTyagaraja Aradhana, aCarnatic music festival held annually during January – February atThiruvaiyaru, located 13 km (8.1 mi) away from the city.[53]Thanjavur painting is a major form of classicalSouth 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 inTelugu and Tamil. The art is usually a combination of raised and painted surfaces, with the Hindu godKrishna being the most popular image depicted. In modern times, these paintings have become souvenirs of festive occasions in South India, wall decors, and collector's items for art lovers.[54][55]
The major occupation of 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".[56][57]Paddy (unmilled rice) is the crop and the other crops grown areblackgram,banana,coconut,gingelly,ragi,red gram,green gram,sugarcane andmaize. 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) andThaladi (September, October to February, March).[58] The total rice production has been maintained at 10.615 L.M.T and 7.077 L.M.T. The city acts as a focal point for food grains transported from the adjoining areas of theCauvery 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 the city.[59]
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 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.[dubious –discuss][60]
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 is a doll made from clay, wood or plastic.[59][61] The sarees produced in the villages surrounding Thanjavur are sold in Thanjavur and neighbouring towns.[61] Increasing production costs and competition from large-scale producers have reduced the number of people involved in the production.[61] The city produces bell metal craft like Thanjavur metal plates, bronze images bowls, napkins and powder boxes made of copper and bronze. The city is a major manufacturer of pith works consisting of models of Hindu idols, mosques, garlands and other bird figurines. Manufacture of musical instruments likeveena,tambura,violin,mrithamgam,thavil andkanjira is another economic activity in the city.[59]
All majornationalised banks such asState Bank of India,Indian Bank,Central Bank of India,Punjab National Bank,Indian Overseas Bank and private banks likeICICI Bank,City Union Bank have their branches in Thanjavur. All these banks have theirautomated teller machines located in various parts of the city.[62] Thanjavur farmers insure additional 2.5 lakh acres in 10 days, but acreage still lower than last year.
| Religion | Percent(%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu | 82.87% | |||
| Muslim | 8.34% | |||
| Christian | 8.58% | |||
| Sikh | 0.01% | |||
| Buddhist | 0.01% | |||
| Jain | 0.06% | |||
| Other | 0.11% | |||
| No religion | 0.01% | |||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1871 | 52,171 | — |
| 1881 | 54,745 | +4.9% |
| 1891 | 54,390 | −0.6% |
| 1901 | 57,870 | +6.4% |
| 1911 | 60,341 | +4.3% |
| 1921 | 59,913 | −0.7% |
| 1931 | 66,889 | +11.6% |
| 1941 | 68,702 | +2.7% |
| 1951 | 100,680 | +46.5% |
| 1961 | 111,099 | +10.3% |
| 1971 | 140,547 | +26.5% |
| 1981 | 184,015 | +30.9% |
| 1991 | 202,013 | +9.8% |
| 2001 | 215,725 | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 222,943 | +3.3% |
| Sources:* 1871 – 1901:Imperial Gazette of India, Volume 23. Clarendon Press. 1908.* 1901 – 2001:"Populationmythu growth". Thanjavur municipality website. Archived fromthe original on 25 July 2010.* 2011:[63] | ||
According to2011 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.[64] 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 the population respectively. The average literacy of the city was 83.14%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[64] 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.[63] As per 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.[65]
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.[66]Tamil is the widely spoken language, with the standard dialect beingCentral Tamil dialect.Thanjavur Marathi andSaurashtra are other languages spoken in the city. Thanjavur is the cultural and political center of the Thanjavur Marathi people. WhileHindus form the majority, the city also has a substantial population ofMuslims andChristians. Roman Catholics in Thanjavur are affiliated to theRoman Catholic Diocese of Tanjore and Protestants are affiliated to theTrichy–Tanjore Diocese of theChurch of South India.[67] The workforce is predominantly involved in service industry involving trade and commerce.[68] With the expansion of the city area, the opportunities for agriculture is limited and only 7% of the population is involved in it.[68]
The National HighwaysNH 83 andNH 36 pass through Thanjavur andNH 136 andNH 67 connect Thanjavur respectively with Perambalur and Thiruvurur. The city is connected withNagapattinam,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 andOoty through regular bus services. Thanjavur had a single bus terminus located at the heart of the city.[69] 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 likeVallam,Budalur, Mohamed Bunder,Nadukkavery,Pillaiyarpatti,Vallam Pudursethi,Sengipatti,Ammapettai,Mariamman Kovil,Thiruvaiyaru andKuruvadipatti.[70]
The railway line connectingTiruchirappalli Junction railway station toChennai Egmore viaThanjavur, theMain Line is a historical line established bySouth Indian Railway Company in 1879.[71] The Great Southern of India Railway Company (GSIR) operated a broad gauge rail service betweenNagapattinam andTiruchirapalli via Thanjavur between 1861 and 1875. During 1875 it was converted to a meter gauge line (MG line).[25] Modern day Thanjavur railway junction has three rail heads leading to Tiruchirapalli,Kumbakonam and Thiruvarur. Thanjavur 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 toPondicherry, Nagercoil,Kanyakumari,Tirupati,Nellore,Itarsi,Visakhapatnam,Hubli,Vasco da Gama, Goa,Vijayawada,Chandrapur,Nagpur,Jabalpur,Satna,Katni,Allahabad,Varanasi,Jaunpur,Ayodhya, andBhubaneswar. There are frequent passenger trains from the city to towns like Thiruvarur,Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Tiruchirapalli,Kumbakonam,Mayiladuthurai andNagore,hubbali.[72][73][74]
In the early 1990s, Thanjavur was connected with Chennai via theVayudoot flight service, which was stopped due to poor patronage. A full-fledged air force station is operational at Thanjavur.[75] Thanjavur Air Force Station was to become a major air base by 2012, to handleFighter,Transport aircraft and also refuelling aircraft.[76] However, the inauguration of theThanjavur Air Force Station took place on 27 May 2013.[77] The Thanjavur Air Force Station bases a squadron of itsSukhoi Su-30SupermaneuverabilityFighter aircraft at Thanjavur, making it the first fighter squadron in Tamil Nadu.[78][79] The nearest airport isTiruchirapalli International Airport. The nearest Seaport is located atNagapattinam.
| Municipal Corporational Officials | |
|---|---|
| Mayor | Thiru. Ramanathan[80] |
| Commissioner | Thiru K.Saravanakumar[81] |
| Deputy Mayor | Tmt. Dr. Anjugam Bhoopathy[82] |
| Elected Members | |
| Member of Legislative Assembly | T K G Neelamegam[83] |
| Member of Parliament | S Murasoli |
The municipality of Tanjore 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 the Computer Wing. All these departments are under the control of a Municipal Commissioner who is the supreme executive head.[84] 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.[85]
On 10 April 2013, the state government announced in the Assembly that Thanjavur municipality will be upgraded to a Municipal corporation.[86][87] Thanjavur City Corporation is likely to have an area of 110.27 km2 (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 andInathukanpatti are likely to be added to the municipal corporation limits.[88] Thanjavur became City Corporation on 10 April 2014.[89]
Thanjavur comes under theThanjavur State Assembly Constituency and it elects a member to theTamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years.[90][91] From the 1977 elections, the assembly seat was won byDravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) six times during the 1977, 1980, 1989, 1996, 2001 and 2006 elections, theIndian National Congress party once during the 1984 elections and theAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) twice during the 1991 and 2011 elections.[92][83]M. Karunanidhi, who served as theChief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a record five terms, was elected from theThanjavur assembly constituency in the 1962 elections.[93]
Thanjavur is also a part of theThanjavur Lok Sabha constituency and elects a member to theLok Sabha, the lower house of theParliament of India, once every five years.[91][94] The Lok Sabha seat has been held by theIndian National Congress for Seven terms during 1951–56,[95] 1957–62,[96] 1962–1967,[97] 1980–84, 1984–1989,[98] 1989–91[99] and 1991–96,[100]Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for Seven terms during 1967–71,[101] 1971–77,[102] 1996–98, 1998–99,[103] 1999–04,[104] 2004–09[105] and 2009–present[106] and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for one term during 1977–80.[107]R. Venkataraman, who served as thePresident of India from 1987 to 1992, was elected from theThanjavur Lok Sabha constituency in the 1951 elections.[95]
Law and order in the city is maintained by the Thanjavur subdivision of theTamil 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.[108] There are six police stations in the city, one of them being an all-women police station.[109] Some special units include prohibition enforcement, district crime, social justice and human rights, district crime records and a special branch that operates at the district level police division headed by a Superintendent of Police (SP).[108]
Thanjavur has a total of four Universities, namely thePeriyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology,PRIST University,SASTRA University andTamil University.[110] The Tamil University is a state run institute, started during 1981 and obtained its statutory recognition from 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.[111][112]
Thanjavur has a total of 15 arts, science & management colleges and nine engineering colleges.[111] TheThanjavur Medical College was established in 1961 and is one of the oldest medical colleges in Tamil Nadu.[113] The Paddy Processing Research Centre (PPRC), which later became theIndian Institute of Food Processing Technology in 2017, is a hub for food processing research.[114] TheSaraswati 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 the city.[46]
There are 20 registered schools in Thanjavur, catering to the primary, secondary and higher secondary educational needs of the city.[115] St. Peter's Higher Secondary School at Thanjavur was established byRev. 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 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.[116] Kalyanasundaram Higher Secondary School, established in 1869, is one of the newest schools in the city.[117]
Electricity supply to Thanjavur is regulated and distributed by theTamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The city along with its suburbs is a part of Trichy Electricity Distribution Circle.[118] 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.[119]
About 110 metric tonnes of solid waste are collected from Thanjavur every day by door-to-door collection and subsequently 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.[120] 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.[121] 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.[122]
Neo tidel park announced in newly added city pillayarpatti
There are 37 hospitals and seven clinical labs in Thanjavur that take care of the health care needs of the citizens.[123] 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.[124] 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.[125] Thanjavur comes under the Thanjavur Telecom circle of theBharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's state-owned telecom and internet services provider. Apart from telecom, BSNL also providesbroadband internet service.[126] 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.[127]
Some villages around Thanjavur city and comes under Thanjavur metropolitan area are
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