Tanjore Gazetteer

The district of Tanjore gets its name from its headquarter town. The original edition of this Gazetteer derives the etymology of the word from ‘Tanjan’ a Rakshasa, or a demon, who according to the local legend was destroyed by the Lord Vishnu. His dying request that the city be named after him was granted by Vishnu.

The greater part of the history of Tanjore is related to various races including the ferocious Nagas, the great Cholas and later the Pallavas. Cholas were among the three chief powers, which included the Pandyas and the Cheras, of South India at that time.

This Gazetteer, which has remained out of print for a long time, remains one of the most authentic and compact record of Tanjore. The comprehensiveness of the Gazetteer lies in the fact that it succeeds in including all possible aspects of the district including the physical description, political history, the people and the races, agriculture and irrigation, forests, occupation and trade, means of communication, public health and education, land administration and administration of justice. The significant feature of the Gazetteer is the detailed description of all important Taluks of the district. The Gazetteer is being made available once again on popular demand from the readers and the libraries alike.