Thanjavur is a historical city, contemporary travel requires digital tools for smooth navigation, booking, and information. Here is a detailed guide to the most useful local apps and websites for visitors to Thanjavur:
1. Official Tourism & Information Websites
- Thanjavur District Official Website (
thanjavur.nic.in):- Provides administrative contacts and details on local governance.
- Offers a reliable list of tourist places and information on local festivals.
- Thanjavur Tourism Promotion Council (
thanjavurtourism.org):- Official portal for events, heritage walks, and local culture (GI products, cuisine).
- Provides contact information for the Tourist Officer.
- Tamil Nadu Tourism (TTDC):
- Useful for booking state-run accommodation (Hotel Tamilnadu).
- Good for checking details on nearby attractions (Darasuram, Swamimalai) and booking packaged tours.
2. Transportation & Ride-Sharing Apps
- Uber:
- Available in Thanjavur for ride-sharing and taxi service.
- Offers reliable, point-to-point travel within the city.
- Also includes Uber Bike for quick, affordable rides.
- Ola Cabs:
- Another popular ride-sharing and taxi service in the region.
- Tourists should check both Uber and Ola for best availability and pricing.
- TNSTC Official App:
- Official app for booking long-distance government bus tickets (SETC services).
- Useful for inter-city travel from the New Bus Stand to major cities like Chennai or Madurai.
- Townbus App:
- Community-sourced app providing unofficial bus timings for local TNSTC town buses.
- Useful for travel to surrounding villages/towns (e.g., Kumbakonam).
- Google Maps:
- Essential for navigation, checking auto-rickshaw distances before haggling, and tracking route progress.
3. Food, Accommodation & E-Commerce
- Swiggy & Zomato:
- Widely used in Thanjavur for Food Delivery.
- Allows ordering from local restaurants (e.g., traditional meals, Biryani) directly to your hotel.
- MakeMyTrip / Goibibo / Expedia:
- Necessary for finding and pre-booking hotels and resorts in the Thanjavur area.
- IRCTC App / Website:
- Official portal for checking train availability, booking tickets, and real-time status updates for trains at Thanjavur Junction (TJ).
- Google Pay (GPay) / PhonePe:
- Essential for local transactions via UPI (Unified Payments Interface).
- Used universally by small shops, vendors, and drivers for cashless payment.
4. Local Guides and Discovery
- Explore Thanjavur Website (
explorethanjavur.com):- Offers unique, locally-guided tours.
- Focuses on deeper cultural immersion, including Chola Heritage and agricultural experiences.
- Thanjavur District Places (App):
- A basic local app providing a directory for local businesses, shops, dining, and public services.