Tirunelveli to Thanjavur Taxi

Tirunelveli to Thanjavur Taxi — 348 km to the Great Chola Capital

At 348 km and about 6 to 7 hours, this route connects Tirunelveli to Thanjavur, the old Chola capital and home to the Brihadeeswara temple, a UNESCO World Heritage monument that dominates the delta skyline.

The road north and east

The route follows the highway north through Madurai and Trichy, then turns east into the Cauvery delta, where paddy fields and coconut groves line the last hour.

A temple that still astonishes

The Brihadeeswara temple was completed around 1010 CE under Rajaraja Chola, and its 66-metre vimana is topped by a single granite capstone said to weigh tens of tonnes.

Vehicle choice

A sedan works for small groups; families and tour groups will be more comfortable in an SUV.

Booking

Round trips suit those wanting a second day for the palace, art gallery and nearby Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

Bronzes, paintings and a library

Thanjavur is also a centre of craft: the Chola-style bronze casting of nearby Swamimalai, the gilded and gem-set Thanjavur paintings, the bell-metal plates and the veena makers are all worth seeking out. The Saraswathi Mahal Library, founded by the Nayak and Maratha rulers, holds tens of thousands of palm-leaf and paper manuscripts, and the Thanjavur Maratha Palace houses a museum of bronzes. The big temple is best visited in the early morning or late afternoon, when the granite is cooler and the light softer, and it is open through much of the day. Sound-and-light shows and cultural evenings are sometimes held in the palace grounds. A late-afternoon arrival still leaves time for sunset at the temple before dinner, while a full second day covers the Great Living Chola Temples at Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

Planning tips

Dress modestly for the temple, keep footwear in the car or at the shoe stand, and note that cameras and phones may be restricted in the sanctum. Because the drive is long, many visitors arrive in the evening, rest overnight and see the temple first thing the next morning, when queues are short and the granite is cool.

Where to stop on the way

Madurai is the natural first break, and Trichy, around the 250 km mark, is the best place for lunch, with the option to see the Rock Fort or Srirangam before turning east to Thanjavur, about an hour further.