Tanjore- The Brihadeshwara Temple of Chola dynasty

The temple opens early in the day, I got the complimentary drop to the temple gate from my hotel. As you reach near the complex you start feeling the grandeur of this place.

At the entrance there is tourist information center, where you can hire the guide. I hired one to explain the history and structure. As you go in there are baggage storage counter and few shops selling the Tanjore dolls and brass items.

The main gate of the temple leaves you awestuck, so huge with delicate cravings in red stone. There are multiple entrance gates build by different rulers, each has a intrinsic carving of that era. As you enter inside, you see the huge main temple, the stones shining like brass with the sunrays falling on it. The main structure is surrounded with multiple small temples intricately carved out. For the architecture buffs, this place is must visit. The carving will leave you enthralled, its build in Dravidian style. If you have been to belur, you can see some similarity in the architecture. Later Marathas also added to this temple and there are maratha style architecture in some parts.

Later I visited the house of one of the painters whose 8th generation is keeping the tradition of brass idols and Tanjore painting. I bought a small painting as the souvenir of the place.

Then I moved on to Museum and library, this place as contrary to the big temple is painted with bright colors in multiple pattern. The place is divided in to segments and there is road map to cover all. Also there is clock tower but the entry is restricted.

For lunch I had Maratha thali at my hotel, it was scrumptious. Evening it strolled around the area and visited a church on the next lane.

Tomorrow I try to cover few nearby places.

I backed up my bags and head towards my friend’s house. With no plans I just decided to spend the day with her family. It turns out that Aunty has already made a long list of places to be visited. We did chit chatted for a while about the 2years we have spend in home and how life has changed.

The best part was homemade food that too south Indian. Aunty got the cab booked for us. First we headed towards a church in nearby town towards Trichy. The prime aim was to visit the Srirangam temple in Trichy.

The church is commonly known as Poondy Madha Basilica, next was the world’s oldest dam Grand Anicut. Due to summer the dam was mostly dry with sand patches around like islands.

On the way to Trichy we stopped at Jambukeshwara temple, this was huge temple with four gates in each direction.

It was evening by the time we reached Srirangam, the evening sky was beautifully painted with shades of purple and pink. The main sanctum was closed and their was huge line even for the ticketers so we ditched it and explored around the temple premises.

Later we stopped by at the millet laddoo shop, mine bus to bangalore was at 9pm. I hurriedly freshen up and uncle took me to bus stop.

It was an amazing trip thanks to my friend.