Also known as Tanjore, the town is a main commercial centre for the surrounding Kaveri delta, which nevertheless retains the feel of a rural market town.

There are some superb monuments in Thanjavur, most notably the Brihadeshwara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the most imposing Chola monument in all of Tamil Nadu and contains a superb bronze collection. The temple dominates the skyline of the town, with a 13 storey tower and colonnaded walkways around a central courtyard.

Graceful bronzes are housed in the 17th century Nayak Royal Palace and are an astonishing display of South Indian mediaeval metallurgical skills at their height. Nearby, the Bell Tower is worth the climb for the views right across Thanjavur and over the palace itself.

The Saraswathi Mahal Library contains over 30,000 Indian and European manuscripts written on palm leaf and paper.