- Distance
- About 190 km by road
- Drive time
- 3.5–4 hours one way
- Pickup
- Madurai
- Destination
- Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
- Trip type
- Same-day return possible
- Vehicles
- Sedan, SUV, tempo traveller, coach
About the trip
Thanjavur, or Tanjore, was the capital of the Chola kings, and their Brihadeeswarar Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built over a thousand years ago. Visitors come for the Big Temple, the Maratha palace with its library and bronze gallery, and handmade Thanjavur paintings and dolls. The drive from Madurai goes north-east via Melur and Pudukottai through quiet farmland.
What to see in Thanjavur
- Brihadeeswarar Temple (Big Temple)
- Thanjavur Maratha Palace
- Saraswathi Mahal Library
- Art Gallery bronzes
- Schwartz Church
- Gangaikonda Cholapuram (longer trip)
On the road
Drive via Melur, Thirumayam and Pudukottai. Leave by 5:30 am to see the Big Temple in the cooler morning.
A same-day plan
- 5:30 amPick-up in Madurai and drive via Pudukottai
- 9:00 amBreakfast and visit the Brihadeeswarar Temple
- 11:30 amMaratha Palace and Saraswathi Mahal Library
- 1:00 pmLunch in Thanjavur
- 2:30 pmArt gallery and Thanjavur painting shops
- 4:00 pmStart the drive back
- 8:00 pmDrop in Madurai
Timings are a guide — tell us when you want to leave and what you want to see, and the driver will work around it.
Choose your vehicle
Airport runs, couples and small families on short trips.
The usual pick for family trips, ghat roads and long days on the highway.
Extra room and comfort for special occasions and senior guests.
Extended families, pilgrimage parties and office outings.
Weddings, school trips and temple tours with a big party.
Every car is air-conditioned and comes with an experienced driver. Our quote is all-inclusive — fuel, tolls, parking, interstate permit and driver batta — and is confirmed in writing before you book.
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Send us the date, pickup point, number of people and whether you need a return. We reply with the vehicle and a single all-inclusive price.
