Thanjavur Maratha Palace

Thanjavur Maratha Palace is a historic palace complex in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, originally constructed by the Thanjavur Nayaks around 1550 and later expanded by the Thanjavur Marathas. Located near the Brihadisvara Temple, it houses the Saraswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur Art Gallery, Durbar Hall, and royal collections. Notable for its architecture, murals, and Maratha heritage, it is a major cultural and tourist attraction in the Cauvery delta region.

Visitors can explore a large palace complex with courtyards, corridors, Durbar Hall, bell tower, and museum galleries. Inside are the Saraswathi Mahal Library with ancient manuscripts, the Thanjavur Art Gallery displaying Chola bronzes and Tanjore paintings, and royal artefacts, weapons and costumes. The architecture shows Nayak and Maratha styles with stucco work, murals and wooden carvings. Areas are spread across multiple buildings requiring walking and climbing stairs.

The palace was originally built by the Thanjavur Nayaks around 1550 as their royal residence. After the Nayak decline, it was occupied and expanded by the Thanjavur Marathas of the Bhonsle dynasty from 1674 to 1855. Rulers such as Serfoji II contributed significantly, especially to the Saraswathi Mahal Library. The complex reflects Nayak and Maratha architectural phases and served as the seat of Maratha administration in Thanjavur.

The palace is a centre of Tamil and Maratha cultural heritage, housing the Saraswathi Mahal Library with rare manuscripts in Tamil, Sanskrit, Marathi and other languages, and the Art Gallery known for Chola bronzes and Tanjore paintings. It represents the patronage of arts, literature and learning under the Marathas and preserves traditions of music, painting and manuscript preservation associated with Thanjavur.