to civic unrest. Economy Most of the shops and businesses include services for farmers from nearby villages. Other than services and retail, Important sectors that provide employment in the town are state government, health, primary education. The town area is densely populated and lined up with a litany of retail shops ranging from small to medium. The main business areas are South street, Theradi (where the temple car is parked) and Odathurai street where the new revamped bus stand with retail shops is located. Thiruvaiyaru has a Government hospital and few (3+) 24/7 private hospitals as well. Culture/Cityscape Tourist Attractions Thiruvaiyaru has an old Siva temple dedicated to Aiyarappar or Panchanatheeswar. Music and films Thiruvaiyaru is more renowned for its association with Saint Thyagaraja, who, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri, comprised the Trinity of Carnatic music. Thiruvaiyaru is known for its annual Thyagaraja Aradhana music festival. There are so many private music teachers and Bharathanatiyam teachers available in town. The only tertiary education provider in town, Tamilnadu Government Music College offers courses in music from Diploma through to Doctoral programs Famous persons Near the Shiva temple is the one-roomed house where Thyagaraja composed some of his greatest works. Thyagaraja was interred on the banks of the river Kaveri and it is called the revered Samadhi (burial place) of the saint composer and it is here that the greatest music festival in the country takes place annually. Nearby are the Samadhis (burial places) of some of the other saints like Shiva Prakasha Swamigal and Bangalore Nagaratnamma, who actually identified and rebuilt the Samadhi of Sri Tyagaraja. The Thyagaraja Aradhana festival is held in the Bahula Panchami Thithi of Margazhi (Margashirsha)Tamil month which falls on December or January when most of the leading exponents of Carnatic music come to perform and are watched by thousands of ardent fans of classical music. A huge complex is built at this site to accommodate the large audience that come to the concert in ever increasing numbers every year. Transport By Air The nearest airport to reach Thiruvaiyaru is at Thiruchirapalli, which is located at a distance of about 56 km. By Rail Nearest railway station is situated at Thanjavur (13km) and another railway station at Ariyalur (30km)[Trichy-Chennai line] By Road There is a direct bus service from Thanjavur, which lies at a distance of 11 km from Thiruvaiyaru. National Highway No.136 from Thanjavur