Thanjavur Royal Palace And Art Gallery

One of the most popular ways to spend a royal day out in Thanjavur is to rush to Thanjavur Royal Palace and Art Gallery. Reckoned to be one of the oldest museums in Tamilnadu, Thanjavur Palace, locally esteemed as ‘Aranmanai’, was originally erected by the rulers of the Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty.

After the demise of the Thanjavur Dynasty, the palace became the official residence of Thanjavur Maratha, and hence, it is also known as Thanjavur Maratha Palace. But leaving all the history behind, this place now serves as a leading art gallery and museum in Thanjavur and is home to opulent ancient paintings, items, images, and sculptures of the Chola, Pallava, Pandya, and Nayak epochs.

Apart from all this, the star attraction of Thanjavur Palace is the spectacular bronze sculptures dating back 9th, 13th, and 16th centuries that throw an insight into the history of the city.

The place has seven different sections to explore. First on your tour is the Royal Palace Museum, where you get to savor the sights of various sculptures, elephant bells, weaponry, and headgear of the King. Second is Maharaja Serfoji Memorial Hall, which commemorates King Serfoji II.

As you move forward, the next stopover is Mahratta Darbar Hall, where the impressive interior awaits to fill your heart with some resplendent ancient beauties. The passage then next leads you to an old library where a larger chunk of Serfoji II’s ancient scriptures, manuscripts, and books are out there on display. The remaining section to explore is the Nayak Palace Courtyard, which is home to various bronzes and sculptures.

History of Thanjavur Royal Palace

Also known as Maratha Palace or Nayak Palace, it was the official residence of the Maratha rulers from 1674 to 1855. It was constructed partly by Thanjavur Nayaks around 1550 CE and expanded by the Marathas.

The palace is noted for its huge halls, spacious corridors, observation and arsenal towers, and a shady courtyard. This palace is a must-visit place for history buffs to understand the history and lifestyle of its rulers as part of Thanjavur tour.

Architecture of Thanjavur Royal Palace

The entrance to the palace is a large quadrangular courtyard which is encircled by walls with big gateways to the north and the east. The courtyard leads to a many-pillared hall. The Goodagopuram, also known as Bell Tower, an eight storied vimana like building situated on the southern side of the third quadrangle, has a height of 190 ft.

It was the palace watchtower and also the armory of the Thanjavur Kings till 1855 AD. Beyond the Goodagopuram lies the six-storied tower called Manimandapam.

The Palace is divided into two parts where the first part followed by Saraswathi Mahal Library is extended by Maratha rulers and it houses Royal Museum, Maratha Darbar Hall, and Sangeetha Mahal. The second part of the palace was constructed during the Nayak period and it houses Goodagopuram, Manimandapam, and Art Gallery.