 Thanjavur is an important centre of silk weaving in Tamil Nadu . There were 200 silk weaving units in the city in 1991 with around 80 @,@ 000 people working in them . The sarees produced in the villages surrounding Thanjavur are sold in Thanjavur and neighbouring towns . Increasing production costs and competition from large @-@ scale producers have reduced the number of people involved in the production . The city produces bell metal craft like Thanjavur metal plates , bronze images bowls , napkins and powder boxes made of copper and bronze . The city is a major manufacturer of pith works consisting of models of Hindu idols , mosques , garlands and other bird figurines . Manufacture of musical instruments like veena , tambura , violin , mrithamgam , thavil and kanjira is another economic activity in the city . 
