தஞ்சாவூர் மராட்டிய அரண்மனை
Thanjavur Maratha Palace (Aranmanai)
A sprawling palace complex begun by the last Thanjavur Nayak king and expanded over two centuries by the Maratha rulers who succeeded them, today housing the Saraswathi Mahal Library and the Thanjavur Art Gallery of Chola bronzes.
The Thanjavur Palace, locally called the Aranmanai, was begun under Vijayaraghava Nayak, the last ruler of the Thanjavur Nayak line, whose construction is generally dated to between 1633 and 1673 CE. When the Marathas took control of Thanjavur in 1674, rather than replacing the palace, successive Maratha rulers expanded and embellished it over nearly two centuries, layering new halls, courtyards, and a bell tower onto the existing Nayak-era core — producing a complex that visibly narrates the transition between the two dynasties in a single set of buildings. Its most celebrated internal spaces include the Durbar Hall, used for royal audiences, and an observation tower offering views across the old town. Today the palace complex houses two of Tamil Nadu's most significant cultural institutions: the Saraswathi Mahal Library, one of Asia's oldest manuscript collections, and the Thanjavur Art Gallery (Raja Raja Chola Art Gallery), home to an important collection of Chola-era bronze icons.
Highlights
- Begun under the last Thanjavur Nayak king, Vijayaraghava Nayak (1633–1673 CE)
- Expanded by Maratha rulers over nearly two centuries after 1674
- Houses the Saraswathi Mahal Library and Thanjavur Art Gallery
- Durbar Hall and observation tower remain among its best-preserved spaces
Thanjavur
Royal palace complex
Begun under the Nayaks, 1633–1673 CE; expanded by Maratha rulers through the 19th century
Explore the Connections
Thanjavur
தஞ்சாவூர்
Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu and cradle of Chola art and architecture.
Vijayanagara Empire and the Nayak Governors
நாயக்கர் ஆட்சி
After the Vijayanagara Empire absorbed the Tamil country, its Nayak governors — especially at Madurai and Thanjavur — became independent power centers responsible for major temple expansions, including much of the Meenakshi Temple as it stands today.
Saraswathi Mahal Library
சரஸ்வதி மஹால் நூலகம்
One of the oldest surviving libraries in Asia, holding tens of thousands of palm-leaf and paper manuscripts in Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, and Marathi — a working record of over four centuries of Nayak and Maratha royal scholarship.