| Thanjavur Royal Palace Museum |
About:The Royal Palace Museum at Thanjavur in the state of Tamil Nadu was established in the year 1994. It is a multipurpose museum that preserves the materials of the ancient past.
`The objects that people will find here are textiles, photo, oil paintings, pencil paintings, drawings, musical instruments, wooden objects, ivory, furniture, Tanjavur paintings, copper manuscripts, palm leaf manuscripts, porcelain, miniature paintings, dolls and stone sculptures. Apart from these objects, there are also plates, coconut shell carvings, coins, beadwork, arms and bronzes. |
| Location info: |
| Address:Thanjavur Royal Palace Museum ,Thanjavur ,Tamil Nadu |
| District: Thanjavur |
| Nearest City: Thanjavur |
| Best time to visit:Throughout the year. |
| Climate/Weather: |
| The climate of Thanjavur is Tropical. The maximum temperature is 36.6° C and minimum is 22° C. |
| History: |
| The Palace, on the east main street is a series of large and rambling buildings of fine masonry, built partly by the Nayaks around 1550 AD, and partly by the Marathas. The entrance is by way of a large quandrangular courtyard. The encircling walls are pierced by big gateways to the north and east. The courtyard leads to a many-pillared hall. A small inner courtyard gives access to a large one.On the southern side of the third quadrangle is a vimana like building, 190 feet high with eight storeys and it is the Goodagopuram. This was the palace watch tower and also the armoury of the Thanjavur Kings till 1855 A.D.The two Durbar Halls of the Nayaks and the Mahrattas and the Raja Sarafoji Saraswathi Mahal Library are the chief sights of the Palace. The Saraswathi Mahal Library has remarkable collection of about 30,433 sanskrit and other vernacular palm leaf manuscripts and 6,426 printed volumes, besides a large number of journals. The library is the effort of the three hundred years of collections by the Nayak and Mahratta kings.Madamaligai is the tower which rises from the palace roof beyond the Goodagopuram. It has six storeys. It is believed that this was built by Nayak ruler to enable him worship Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam every mid-day. This many storeyed tower was destroyed by lightning and was subsequently repaired and preserved. |
| Interesting places to Visit: |
Bragatheeswarar Temple :
The main temple. Rajaraja Cholan, the Great Chola king built Bragatheeswarar Temple. This is an example for the Indian sculptural architecture greatness. Temple is surrounded by moat on two sides and Grand Anaicut river on the other side. This temple is unique to have the tallest tower over the sanctum sanctorum unlike the other temples. It is 216 feet tall. The stupa at the top is made of bronze.The walls of the sanctum are covered, with the wall paintings of Chola and Nayak periods, comparable to the famous Ajanta cave frescoes.The Thanjavur PalaceThe Palace of Thanjavur was partly built by the Nayaks and partly by the Marathas around 1550 A.D. The palace is an architectural beauty but the condition it was in, was pitiful. A part of it was destroyed by a lightning stroke and till few years earlier, it was still in ruins. But the reconstruction and preservation work has been taken up. The palace houses many museums that by themselves are a great tourist attraction. It has an art gallery apart from the Royal museum which showcases royal possessions like the costumes, weapons and musical instruments. Tourist get a feeling of living the past when they enter this exclusive museum. It also has a library that houses around 40,000 ancient manuscripts and different volumes of various languages. All the showpieces are well preserved and a treat to eyes.Mariamman TempleThis temple is situated at Punnainallur, a small village around 6 km east to Thanjavur. The temple is widely visited by localities as it is said that the worshiped Goddess treats all physical disabilities. The most auspicious day for visiting the temple is Sunday. The day sees a huge footfall of devotees specially women and children. This is one of the important temples of Thanjavur and now is visited by tourists as well who want to experience the sheer beauty of its architecture.Saraswati Mahal LibraryThe Saraswati Mahal Library came into being around the end of 16th century under the rule of Telugu Nayaka. Library is famous for its collection of manuscripts of several Indian and European languages on paper and on palm leaves. The 16th century library is abode to works of ancient and medieval periods. You will come across the biography of Muhammad Ghazni as well as books on the 64 bathing ghats of Varanasi.Royal MuseumThe Royal museum is located inside the Palace complex. This museum is a must visit for all artifact lovers. Among the show items, collection of rare bronze sculptures are the most famous. There are more than 400 pieces of such sculptures in the museum. Royal museum also has stone sculptures from Pallava, Chola and Pandaya periods and rare paintings done on wood using different colors and gold leafs. It is open on all days from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening. |
| How to reach? |
| Nearest Railway Station:Thanjavur. |
| Nearest Airport:Tiruchirapalli 65 kms |
| Road Transport:Thanjavur is well connected to all the major towns in Tamilnadu through state highways. Tamilnadu Transport Corporation and similar Transport Corporations of the adjoining states provide bus service to cities in and around Tamilnadu. |
| Nearest Visiting places: |
| Puliyur Vyagrapureeswarar Temple :Around 80 Kms from Thanjavur, situated Nagapattinam. The ancient history says Kamadhenu, the devalogha cow prayed to Lord shiva in this shrine to get rid of its sabam. One more speciality about this temple, on evenings, Nataraja is worshipped first prior to all other gods. This is also referred as Dhakshina Chidambaram. chidambaram is where famous temple of lord Nataraja located. This village is also called as Vyagrapuri named after the lord.Tirubhuvanam:It is located 8 km (5 miles) Northeast of Kumbakonam, is dedicated to Kumbheswara, the “God who removes Fear”. This is also an old silk weaving centre. Kambaharesvarar Temple was built by the King Kulothunga III (1179 AD – 1216 AD). There are two Gopurams and two Praharams,the Karpagraham, Artha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam, Muha Mandapam and Somaskandar Mandapam.Swamimalai:Located 32 Kms away, Swamimalai is one of the six abodes (Arupadaiveedu) dedicated to Lord Murugan. Lord Murugan preached Pranava mantra “OM” to Lord Shiva and that why he is called Swaminathan. The 60 steps to the temple indicate the 60 years of the Tamil calendar. This temple is praised by Arunagirinadar. Every Thursday, Lord Swaminathan is decorated with Diamond Vel. |
| Nearest Petrol Pump: |
| Petrol Pump Thanjavur,Tamilnadu,India |
| Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation: |
Hotel Parisutham
Thanjavur, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu- 04362 231801
Hotel Oriental Towers
Srinivasam Pillai Road, Thanjavur, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu- 04362 230724
Jennys Residency
3/14 Mc Donald’s Road, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil nadu 620001- 0431 2414414Sangam Hotel
Near Temple, Trichy Road, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu- 04362 239451
Hotel Rayas
18,19 Head Post Office Road, , Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 612001- 0435 2423270Hotel Gnanam
Thanjavur, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu- 04362 278501 |
| Help Line/Phone Number: |
Police Station:Police Station
Kamarajar Salai, Triplicane, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil NaduTriplicane Police Station
, Triplicane, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil NaduIce House Police Station
Besant Road, Triplicane, Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Nearest Hospital:Institute Of Opthalmology -Joseph Eye Hospital
, Kilapudur, Tiruchirapalli, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu- 0431 2460622
Rangashri Child Care Clinic
New 76, Srirangam, Gandhi Road, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil nadu 620006? – 0431 2435600
Sowmanasya Hospitals Pvt Ltd
6, K K Nagar, Chinthamani, V N Nagar, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil nadu 620002- 0431 2704304 |
