 Thanjavur is located at 10 @.@ 8 ° N 79 @.@ 15 ° E ﻿ / 10 @.@ 8 ; 79 @.@ 15 The tributaries of river Cauvery , namely , the Grand Anaicut canal ( Pudhaaru ) , Vadavaaru and Vennaaru rivers flow through the city . Thanjavur is situated in the Cauvery delta , at a distance of 314 km ( 195 mi ) south @-@ west of Chennai and 56 km ( 35 mi ) east of Tiruchirappalli . While the plains immediately adjoining the Cauvery river have been under cultivation from time immemorial , most of Thanjavur city and the surrounding areas lie in the " New Delta " – a dry , barren upland tract which has been brought under irrigation during the early 19th century . To the south of Thanjavur city , is the Vallam tableland , a small plateau insterspersed at regular intervals by ridges of sandstone . The nearest seaport is Nagapattinam which is 84 km ( 52 mi ) east of Thanjavur . The nearest airport is Tiruchirapalli International Airport , located at a distance of 56 km ( 35 mi ) . The city has an elevation of 57 m ( 187 ft ) above mean sea level . The total area of the city is 36 @.@ 33 km2 ( 14 @.@ 03 sq mi ) . 
