Thanjavur District
Thanjavur District is one of the
30 districts of the
state of
Tamil Nadu, in southeastern
India. Its capital is
Thanjavur (Tanjore). It had a population of 2,216,138 as of 2001. It is 33.78% urbanised. [
1]
Thanjavur is known as rice bowl of tamil nadu.The district is located in the centre-east of the state, bounded on the northeast by
Nagapattinam District, on the east by
Tiruvarur District, on the south by the
Palk Strait, on the west by
Pudukkottai District, and on the north by the river
Kollidam, across which lie
Tiruchirappalli and
Perambalur districts.
The flat northern part of the district includes part of the river
Kaveri delta. It is irrigated by an elaborate system of dams, cuts and canals in connection with the Kaveri and its chief
distributary, the
Kollidam. These two rivers and the lesser distributaries run from west to east. The soil is exceedingly productive, and the staple crop is
rice. The delta region is highly cultivated, dotted over with groves of
coconut trees (one of the largest producers of coconut in Tamil Nadu), and is one of the most densely populated tracts in India. On account of its fertility it has been called the "Granary of Southern India". The city of Thanjavur lies on the southern bank of the river Kaveri near the center of the district. Other cities and towns include
Kumbakonam,
Madukkur,
Papanasam,
Semmangudi,
Swamimalai,
Thiruvaiyaru,
Pattukottai,
Peraurani,
Orathanad,
Tiruvidaimaruthur,
Tiruvonam and
Adirampattinam.
Thanjavur is a land of historic past with high rise temples, many of them built nearly thousand years ago. Most of the temples were built by the
Cholas with Thanjavur as their capital from the 9th to 11th centuries. It is a center of
Carnatic music. The annual
Thyagaraja Aradhana held in January at
Thiruvaiyaru (13 km from Thanjavur) on the banks of the river Kaveri is very famous and it attracts musicians from all over the country.
Bharathanatayam (ethnic dance of Tamil Nadu) originated at Thanjavur. This form of dance is based on
keerthanas and songs (in Carnatic music). Bharatanatayum was played in temples and was encouraged by kings and temple management committees. Thanjavur art is a famous form of artpieces. They are drawings of mostly God images over cloth piece and decorated with glass, non-precious gems and gold linings.
*
R.Tenny Thomson - Erstwhile St. Peters higher secondary school student.
*
M. Karunanidhi -
DMK Chief
*
Sivaji Ganesan - Popular
Tamil film actor.
*
G. K. Moopanar - Erstwhile
Congress leader
*
Thanjavur District* http://gisserver.nic.in/tncoast/THANJAVUR.htm
