Craftsmen use gravity to create continuous gentle movements around the neck and waist regions of the doll. This is in fact the oldest library in Asia dating back to the 16th century,” said Raja.Īs far as crafts go, the Thanjavur Bommai (Tanjore doll), a bobble-headed dancing doll made from papier-mache or terracotta is a coveted collector’s item. But you’ll also find a few in Persian, Urdu and other Indian dialects like Telugu. “Within the palace complex is the Saraswati Mahal Library that contains over 50,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts - primarily in Tamil and Sanskrit. The figures are from southern Indian folklore and mythology, as well as representative of men and women from that era. These millennium-old bronze figurines and statues have been made using the lost wax method, in which the metal sculpture is cast in a mold made of wax. The Thanjavur Maratha Palace Museum is another site famous for its collection of bronzes dating back to the Chola dynasty. “The inside of the temple is exquisite with frescoes as well as 108 hand-carved stone sculptures depicting women in different Bharatanatyam (classical south Indian dance) postures.”

“The ‘vimana’ or tower on top of the temple’s sanctum is made of monolithic granite - the whole thing has been capped by a single piece of rock - and is 16-stories high,” said Thilaka Raja, a guide for over 40 years, who is accredited with the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department. The foundation of the structure is only five feet deep and filled with mud, yet it has balanced a whopping 80 tons of weight for over millennia now. The temple has been built by using interlocking techniques, where one rock is fitted into the other. Made in the typical style of Dravidian architecture, which is characterized by geometrical towers, the use of pillars and porches, and the use of indigenously sourced rock, the temple is so huge, locals just call it the “Periya Kovil” or the“Big Temple.” It is one of the four temples in Tamil Nadu recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Tanjore Is India’s Hidden Gem For Lovers Of History And Culture - The Tennessee Tribune Close Search for:

Thanjai periya kovil history in tamil