Tanjore District (Madras Presidency) facts for kids

Tanjore District was an important area in British India, part of the Madras Presidency. It included parts of what are now the Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Pudukkottai districts in Tamil Nadu.

The city of Thanjavur was a major center for the ancient Chola culture. Tanjore District was known as one of the wealthiest and most successful districts in the Madras Presidency.

This district was officially created in 1799. This happened when the Maratha ruler of Thanjavur, Serfoji II, gave most of his kingdom to the British East India Company. In return, the British helped him get his throne back.

Tanjore District is located in the Cauvery Delta. This area is one of the best places in South India for growing rice. Because of its fertile land, it was rarely hit hard by famines, like the Great Famine of 1876–78.

People and Population

In 1901, Tanjore District covered a total area of about 9,600 square kilometers (3,710 square miles). At that time, it had a population of 2,245,029 people. This meant there were about 234 people living in every square kilometer (605 people per square mile).

According to the 1901 census, Tanjore was the fifth most populated district in the Madras Presidency. It was also the second most crowded, after Madras city itself.

Religions and Languages

In 1901, most people in Tanjore District were Hindu, making up 91 percent of the population. About 5 percent were Muslim, and 4 percent were Christian.

The main language spoken by most people was Tamil. About 3 percent of the population spoke Telugu. Other languages, like Marathi and Saurashtrian, were also spoken by smaller groups.

Many Muslim places of worship were found in Tanjore and Muttupet. The famous Nagore dargah was also in the district.

Images for kids

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  The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur around 2007.

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  A 1928 map of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom. Its borders were very similar to those of the Tanjore District under British rule.