Places to visit in thanjavur

Michele Falzone/Getty Images It's officially called the Brihadeshwara temple, but there's an obvious reason why this temple is colloquially known as the Big Temple (Periya Kovil in the local language). Big is an understatement though, it's enormous! Not surprisingly, the temple is Thanjavur's biggest (pardon the pun) attraction, one of the The temple complex is open daily from 6 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. You could easily spend a few hours exploring its spacious grounds and relaxing there. Around dusk, when the temple becomes illuminated and auspicious rituals are conducted, is particularly evocative. Photography is permitted. Dinodia Photo/Getty Images King Raja Raja I was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, Hinduism's powerful god of creation and destruction. The Big Temple and Lord Shiva's bull aren't the only things that are notably large. The Big Temple's inner sanctum also contains one of the biggest Shiva lingams (stone symbols of Lord Shiva used in worship) in India. The polished black lingam is nearly four meters (13 feet) tall and is said to weigh about 20 metric tons. Legend has it that the king wanted a suitably impressive symbol, which outdid other temples, to honor Lord Shiva whom he worshiped in the form of Rajarajeshwara (Lord of Raja Raja). Do note that the inner sanctum remains closed daily between noon and 4 p.m. Paul Biris/Getty Images Thanjavur’s other major landmark is the rambling 10-acre Royal Palace Complex, located within walking distance of the Big Temple...