There are 74 temples in Thanjavur and the most captivating is the Sri Brihadeshwara Temple.
This temple is dedicated to Nandi, the bull, who is the vehicle of Lord Shiva.
This Nandi has been sculpted from a singular granite rock and weighs almost 25 tons. Also, the dome of the temple rests on a single rock. The Sri Brihadeshwara Temple has a very impressive architecture.
Adjacent to the Sri Brihadeshwara Temple there is a palace that was built by the Marathas and Nayaks and has a splendid masonry. In this palace are situated the Sangeetha Mahal, Art Gallery and the Mannar Saroboji Saraswathi Mahal library.
The Art Gallery houses remarkable icons in stone and bronze that have been created in the 9th to 12th centuries.
The Saraswathi Mahal library was established in the 16th century. There are several books of ancient and medieval periods. The biography of Muhammad Ghazni can also be found. There are also some books regarding the 64 bathing ghats of Varanasi.
There are many beautiful sculptures in the Archeological Museum. The Tamil University Museum has many coins and musical instruments.
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