Tanjore is 310 kms from Chennai and we had driven down in our own car. Leaving Chennai on 15 at 6 am we reached Tanjore at 12.30pm. Driving past the busy bus stand area we spotted a smart looking Hotel Gnanam which was reasonbly priced and excellent in services. They have an exclusive vegetarian restaurant ( for people like me who cannot have anything else) besides a whole variety of rooms to check in.

The main city has the Brihadeeswara temple and the Bangaru kamakshi Temple and the Palace for a tourist to view. Surprisingly they are all closely situated and are only a walk away from the said hotel.

The Brihadeeswara temple is indeed a treat to observe. Exquisitely carved walls and towers and a towering linga in the sanctum. Adjacent to the temple is the Sivaganga garden which is very vast and has host of activities for children, a quaint toy train which encircles the garden, a swimming pool, boating area, regular play pen and ofcourse a few caged birds and animals too. The palace has many things on display and is more a museum. A good place to be with the kids of the present generation who have very little idea of the past.

We also moved around Tanjore and visited places a little far away like Thiruvaiyaru where again there is large Shiva Temple. The entire stretch is full of Shiva temples talking of the love the Chola rulers had for this Lord. The drive from Thiruvaiyaru to the Grand Anaicut-a dam on the Cauvery, was the most memorable. A silent road meanders through about 20 kms of a village stretch which has the Cauvery flowing on one side and lush green fields spread out on the other, until beyond the reach of the eye.

Moving to Kumbakonam, the following day, we were caught unawares with the difficulty of finding a room. This place is infested by visitors during the weekends, thanks to the proximity of the Navagraha temples. Good planning and booking rooms will prove advantageous here.
Kumbakonam is full of temples and each one an architectural masterpiece. The main city itself has about 7 temples very close to each other.

We also managed a trip to Gangai Konda Choza puram where again a massive monolithic nandi towers the entrance. The temple has been taken over by the Archaeological Survey and is maintained with a beautiful lawn surrounding the temple. Sadly the interiors are not maintained well and the temple has fallen prey to a lot of litter especially of the non-degradable variety.

All said and done the trip was a success and was an eye opener for my children to the rich heritage of India. I firmly believe that all of the present day kids need to be actually taken to such spots and should be guided well regarding the history behind. A sense of appreciation will thus be imprinted and they will make good amabassadors of their country.