Thanjavur district

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, Thanjavur district had a population of 2,405,890 with a sex ratio of 1,035 females per 1,000 males, exceeding the national average of 929. Urban areas accounted for 35.39% of the population. Children under six years of age were 238,598 (121,949 males and 116,649 females). Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 18.91% and 0.15% of the population, respectively. The average literacy rate was 74.44%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The district had a total of 605,363 households and a workforce of 974,079 workers, consisting of 117,321 cultivators, 327,673 main agricultural labourers, 26,430 household industry workers, 363,060 other main workers, 139,595 marginal workers, 12,592 marginal cultivators, 87,688 marginal agricultural labourers, 4,770 marginal workers in household industries and 34,545 other marginal workers.

At the 2011 census, Tamil was the primary language of 97.42% of the population, while Saurashtra was spoken by 1.07%.

Politics

Economy

Agriculture

Thanjavur district is located in the Kaveri delta, the primary agricultural region in Tamil Nadu. It is the state's primary rice-producing area and is commonly referred to as the 'Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu'. The district's agricultural lands are irrigated by a canal network consisting of Kaveri, Vennar, and Grand Anicut (Kallanai) canal systems. Apart from Paddy, other major crops include sugarcane, coconut, pulses, banana and groundnut. These are supported by agro-processing industries such as rice mills and coir manufacturing units.

Tourism

Brihadisvara Temple

The Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur (also known as Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyār Kōvil), built under the Chola king Rajaraja I in the 11th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its Dravidian architecture. The 12th-century Airavateswara Temple at Darasuram near Kumbakonam is also an UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Great Living Chola Temples. Other notable temples include the Prathyangira Devi Temple at Ayyavadi.

Manora Fort

The Manora Fort is situated in Mallipattinam, 20 km (12 mi) from Pattukkottai and 60 km (37 mi) from Thanjavur. The fort was built between 1814 and 1815 by the Thanjavur Maratha ruler Serfoji II, the eight-story hexagonal tower stands at 75 ft (23 m) overlooking the Bay of Bengal. It was erected to commemorate the British victory over Napoléon Bonaparte at teh Battle of Waterloo. The edifice features arched windows, a circular staircase, and an outer moat.

Flora and fauna

The district's vegetation consists of riverine flora along the Kaveri and Killidam River basins and agricultural wetlands. Common tree species include coconut, palpyra palm, tamarind, neem and banyan. The coastal wetlands and lageens near Mallipattinam and Sethubavachatram host mangrove and function as feeding grounds for migratory birds during winter.

Cultural significance

The district is known for traditional art forms and artisanal crafts, several of which hold Geographical Indication (GI) status. These include the Saraswati veena (a classical plucked string instrument), Thanjavur art plates (reoussé brass and silver relief work), Thanjavur oil paintings (chracterized by gold foil leaf and stone inlays), and Thalaiyatti Bommai (terracotta bobblehead dolls). The town of Swamimalai is also recognized for its lost-wax bronze icon casting.

Notable people

• V. S. Srinivasa Sastri
• Srinivasa Ramanujan
• Sivaji Ganesan, actor and former Rajya Sabha Member
• K. Thulasiah Vandayar, former MP
• G K Moopanar TMC- Congress
• G. K. Vasan Rajya Sabha Member
• S. S. Palanimanickam, former Central Minister
• S.D Somasundaram EX Minister and MP
• Parasuram EX MP – Loksabha
• L. Ganesan – EX MLA, MP, MLC
• R. VaithiyaLingam – Ex Minister and Rajya Sabha Member
• M Ramachandran MLA – DMk
• M. Ramkumar - Ex MLA Papanasam
• Durai Govindarajan EX MLA
• Durai Chandrasekaran MLA
• R. Doraikkannu Ex. Minister for Agricultural, Tamil Nadu