Thiba Palace

Thiba Palace is a historic three-story heritage building in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, constructed in 1910 by the British Government to house the exiled King Thibaw of Myanmar under arrest. The palace features a unique blend of British and Burmese architecture, including semi-circular wooden windows and a marble-floored dance hall. Currently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, it functions as a museum displaying artifacts from the king's exile and houses a Buddha idol brought by him.

Visitors can explore the exterior architecture and grounds of this colonial-era palace situated on a hillock, featuring sloping roofs and carved wooden windows. The site includes a museum displaying artifacts used by King Thibaw during his exile and a Buddha idol installed at the rear. Access to interior sections may be restricted due to renovation status, but the surrounding gardens contain old cannons and offer views of the Arabian Sea and Someshwar creek from the nearby vantage point.

Constructed in 1910 by the British Government following the Third Anglo-Burmese War of 1885, this palace served as the residence and place of confinement for King Thibaw Min, the last monarch of Myanmar, until his death in 1916. The site represents a significant chapter in Indo-Burmese colonial history and preserves physical remnants of the exiled royal family's life in India.

The palace embodies a fusion of British colonial and traditional Burmese architectural elements, reflecting the cultural intersection of the exiled monarchy. It houses a revered Buddha idol brought personally by King Thibaw from Myanmar, serving as a tangible link to Burmese Buddhist heritage within Maharashtra.