Page 603 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

T A MIL NADU  601

part of the private quarters of E Saraswati Mahal Library VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
the Maratha Palace, and exhibits Open to public.
the personal collection of Serfoji II. Museum: Closed Wed. Practical Information
Nearby is the Sangeeta Mahal E Royal Museum Thanjavur district. 350 km
(Music Hall), built by the Open daily. & (218 miles) SW of Chennai.
Nayakas, and specially designed * 215,800.
with acoustic features for Environs n Hotel Tamil Nadu
musical gatherings. Lying 55 km (34 miles) east of Complex, (04362) 231 325.
( Mon–Sat. _ Rajaraja Chola’s
Thanjavur, Thiruvarur is famous
E Rajaraja Museum and for its Thyagaraja Temple Birth Anniversary (Oct).
Art Gallery dedicated to the Somaskanda Transport
Tel (04362) 239 823. Open daily. form of Shiva (see p582). The £ @
Closed Sun & public hols. & temple has four gopuras. Its
ceiling is covered with 17th-
century paintings of scenes
from the Shiva legend.
Thanjavur Paintings
A distinctive school of painting
emerged during the rule of the
Marathas, patronized by Serfoji II.
This highly ornamental style was
characterized by vibrant colours as
well as decoration with gold leaf and
precious and semiprecious stones. The
themes are mostly religious, and the
symbolic colour palette of red, black,
blue and white depicts each deity in
a specific colour. The subjects usually
have rotund bodies and almond-
shaped eyes. A favourite image is Baby Krishna with his
Vithoba fresco in the Art Gallery, Royal Krishna portrayed as a chubby infant. mother, Yashodhara
Palace, Thanjavur

Thanjavur City Centre N O R T H R E H A N I S T R E E T
1 Shivaganga Fort
2 Brihadishvara Temple
3 Schwartz Church
Food
4 Royal Palace N O R T H M A I N S T R E E T M A R K E T
Market
D KULAM RD

E A S T
Royal Palace
Aiyan Tank Compound
Entrance M A I N
Rajaraja Museum &
Art Gallery R O A D
Saraswati Mahal
Library & Museums S T R E E T
W E S T
W E S T
M A I N
Samanthaan
Tank
S O U T H M A I N S T R E E T R O A D
0 metres 250
R A M PA R T
S T R E E T
0 yards 250 SOUTH RAMPART STR E ET Thiruvaiyaru M A R K E T
City Bus Stand
Bus Stand
Schwartz
Church HOSPITAL ROAD
Shivaganga
Tank Shivaganga
Fort GANDHIJI ROAD
Brihadishvara ABRAHAM PANDITHER RD
Temple
Grand Anic u t Canal GRAND ANICUT CANAL RD
K U T C H E R Y R D
Railway Station
200 m (220 yards)
THIRUVARUR
For keys to symbols see back flap
600-601_EW_India.indd 601 26/04/17 11:49 am