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Tanjore

The vast delta of the Kaveri River is a fertile rice-growing region, and Tanjore is its busiest rural centre. Once serving as the capital of the powerful Chola dynasty from the 9th century, perhaps the most remarkable civilisation of Dravidian history, Tanjore was historically the most important city in central Tamil Nadu. The Cholas left behind a dizzying historical legacy and were one of the few kingdoms to expand Hinduism beyond India. It was later subsumed into the Vijayanagar Empire, which appointed governors, known as the Nayaks to rule the southern parts of their territory. With the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire, the Nayaks swooped in to form their own dynasty which lasted until 1675. The city changed hands once more before the British took control of the city in 1855. Today Tanjore is a crowded, hectic, modern Indian town, but the past is still very much part of the present; it is an important centre of South Indian religion, art and architecture, with the Brihadishwara Temple, an outstanding example of ancient Chola architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at the forefront.

The sheer size and magnificence of the temple is in itself an expression of the Chola’s self-confidence. The 62-metre high vimana is topped by an 80-tonne granite dome, and somehow the unpainted ochre foundation blocks makes it all the more beautiful; the stone, with its restrained carvings, glows in the sun, and the shrine entrance is guarded by a six-metre long Nandi. The temple courtyard has stone colonnades decorated with frescoes and tranquil bas-relief figures - the perfect place to shelter from the sun and watch the busy Hindu temple life unfold. We recommend heading there for early evening, as the temple grounds are simple spectacular in the setting sunlight. The Cholas were great art patrons and commissioned exquisite bronzes, and there is a large collection in the Tanjore Museum, located in the city's labyrinthine royal palace. One room in particular houses the Nataraja collection, a group of beautiful bronzes devoted to Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance.

Tanjore is perfectly located in between Chettinad and Pondicherry, and is a must visit for anyone who is interested in south Indian history and culture. We recommend spending a few days here, staying at the ultra-luxe Svatma, and from here you can use it as a base from which to explore other Dravidian highlights, such as Trichy and Kumbakonam.

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To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson

Client Testimonials

We really enjoyed the trip and were happy that we squeezed so much into a few short days. The Burmese people were lovely and the sites were fantastic. We really enjoyed the balloon ride and would highly suggest it to others in the future. The trip went super smoothly and a good time plus learning happened for all. Yangon was nice as the Strand was quite amazing and we of course loved the giant gold temple. Many thanks for all of your help and look forward to future travel with you.
- Wallace Family, Burma
Difficult to choose the highlight of the trip, can’t choose between… 1) Taj Mahal & Oberoi Amarvilas. 2) Ranthambore. 3) Lake Palace. We have to say a particular thank you for selecting Parmod as our driver. He is a delightful and kind man who took our holiday and our enjoyment as his responsibility. Thank you for putting together such an amazing trip for us. The balance of city and rural destinations was perfect for us and the variety of rooms and hotel types brilliant. Our driver and guides also added so much to the trip with their knowledge of India’s history and culture and their willingness to discuss it both from a professional and personal angle.
- Carruthers family, North India
So many highlights to choose from! The hotels were amazing but Maya Villa was a highlight… I loved just hanging out in the hammock reading my book and watching the peacocks chase the cows!
- Krista Weir, Sri Lanka

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