India is famous for its abundance of temples and that’s the reason why many people come to Thanjavur (Tanjore) in the state of Tamil Nadu (South India). This city is home to the famous 11th-century Brihadisvara Temple, which is one of the three great living Chola temples. But there’s more to Thanjavur than temples alone – this city is also home to the Maratha Palace (locally known as Aranmanai), for example, which is a great place to explore after seeing the temples.
With its rich history and beautiful architecture, the Maratha Palace is one of the best places to see in Thanjavur.
You will find everything you need to know if you’re planning on visiting it in this little guide. Including its opening hours, entry fee, what to see and other useful information.
>> Read: South India VS North India: 9 Differences
Maratha Palace in Thanjavur: Everything you need to know
A little history
The Maratha Palace (or Aranmanai) was built between 1534 and 1535 at the demand of the Thanjavur Nayak kings. These kings ruled the city from the 15th to the 17th century. According to historians, the palace was originally built as a fort and not as a palace, and prisoners of war were used as labourers to build it.
After the Maratha ruler Venkoji captured the palace in 1674, it became the residence of the Thanjavur Maratha kings, who further extended the palace.
Most of the Maratha Kingdom was annexed by the British Empire in 1799. However, the Marathas remained in charge of their palace.
Today, the Bhosle family, who are the descendants of the Maratha Kings, own the Maratha Palace.
Planning your visit to the Maratha Palace in Thanjavur
The Maratha Palace is home to one of the oldest libraries in Asia and its Durbar Hall is truly stunning! You will find everything you need to know to make the most of your visit below.
What to see at the Maratha Palace
It can be a little tricky to find your way at the Maratha Palace as there are a total of eight sections to see and no clear signs of where you should head.
Map of the places to see
I hope this map and the information below will help you get around the place more easily. During my visit, I struggled a bit to find the right direction.
Things to see
- Royal Palace Museum: At this small museum, you will find weaponry, coins, kitchen utensils and other items. It’s also home to a collection of sculptures.
- Serfoji Memorial Hall: This hall can be found next to the Royal Palace Museum. It commemorates Maharaja Serfoji II who ruled Thanjavur between 1787 and 1793 during his first reign and between 1798 and 1832 during his second reign. You will find some artefacts and photographs here too.
- Mahratta Durbar Hall: This is my favourite place in the palace! The Mahratta Durbar Hall is the palace’s royal court hall. Its colourfully painted walls and ceiling are truly stunning, they depict images of Hindu deities as well as Maratha rulers.
- Sarasvati Mahal Library: Being established in the 16th century, the Sarasvati Mahal is one of the oldest libraries in Asia. It houses a rare collection of palm leaf manuscripts written in Sanskrit, Tamil and other Indian languages.
- Bell Tower: This seven-storied building was built by the Nayaks and it’s believed that it used to be higher. The Bell Tower once housed a clock tower with a bell that rang every hour. I’ve heard that there’s a beautiful view over Thanjavur from the top, but when I visited it, it wasn’t possible to go there.
- Art Gallery (Nayak Palace & Arsenal Tower): This palace was converted into a gallery where you will find a collection of weapons, coins, statues and other artefacts. It also houses the Arsenal Tower, which was used by the Marathas as a place to store weapons. Today, you can climb this tower’s stairs and admire the skeleton of a whale inside. This animal washed ashore in 1955.
- Sangeet Mahal: You will find this hall opposite the art gallery. It was built as an auditorium in 1600 and it was designed to reduce reflected sound. It’s still used to house events today.
- Sharjah Madi: This pink building is famous for its beautiful ornate balconies. It’s interesting to note that these balconies get smaller the higher they are on the building. The best way to see the Sharjah Madi is from East Main Street.
>> Read next: The Most Beautiful Indian Landmarks
Opening hours and entry fee of Maratha Palace
The Maratha Palace in Thanjavur is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm. It does close for public holidays and during lunch hours, so I would avoid heading to the palace around noon.
It costs 30 INR to visit the palace, and an extra 30 INR if you want to take pictures. It’s good to know that you need to buy three different tickets if you want to see the entire palace.
Best time to visit Thanjavur
The best time to visit Thanjavur is during the winter, between October and March. This is when the weather will be most pleasant.
I visited the city in the Summer, which lasts from April to June, and it was SCORCHING hot, so I wouldn’t advise doing the same.
If you’re visiting Thanjavur during the monsoon season (June to September), it will be somewhat cooler than during the summer but it will still be hot and you will experience quite some rainfall.
It took me about 1,5 hours to visit the Maratha Palace. I would have stayed a little longer if it hadn’t been that hot, though.
How to get to the Maratha Palace in Thanjavur
First, you will have to head to Thanjavur, which is easily accessible from other cities by local bus, train or plane.
The Maratha Palace is located in the centre of the city, 1,5 km (0,9 mi) from Thanjavur’s famous Brihadisvara Temple. I took an auto-rickshaw to the temple and walked to the palace after visiting the temple. I thought it was an interesting walk, as you will find a colourful Hindu temple on every corner!
The easiest ways to get to the Maratha Palace are by:
- Auto-rickshaw: You will find these nearly everywhere in Thanjavur. I would recommend downloading the Ola app if you take the rickshaw, though. It works just like Uber and this way, you will get a fair price immediately. Rickshaw drivers tend to charge foreigners ten times the local price, and they’re not easy to negotiate with.
- Scooter: There are places where you can rent a scooter in Thanjavur. This is the most flexible way to get around the city and its surroundings.
- Local bus: The Maratha Palace is just 900 m (0,56 mi) from the Thanjavur Old Bus Stand. Taking the local bus is the cheapest way to get there.
- Private car: Although this is the most comfortable way to get around, hiring a private car or a taxi is also the most expensive one.
Other things to do in Thanjavur
Here are some other great things to do in Thanjavur. Make sure not to miss the Brihadisvara Temple in particular, it’s astonishing!
- Brihadisvara Temple: This magnificent Hindu temple is a beautiful example of Chola architecture. It was built in the 11th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Brihadisvara Temple is Thanjavur’s most famous tourist attraction.
- Other temples: One of my favourite things to do in Thanjavur was to explore its streets and admire all of its temples. The streets of this city are full of colourful Hindu Kovils with beautiful details.
- Bharatanatyam dance performance: This traditional Indian classical dance was born in Thanjavur and is performed in temples. As there’s no specific place to go, you will have to ask around to see if there’s a performance while you’re there.
Maratha Palace (Aranmanai) in Thanjavur: Final thoughts
I have to admit that I don’t think the Maratha Palace is the most spectacular palace to visit in India. However, it’s a great place to see if you have some time left in Thanjavur after visiting the Brihadisvara Temple.
This being said, I did love all the colours and beautiful details at this palace complex, and I loved learning more about its history too. The Mahratta Darbar Hall is a place I particularly loved visiting, as it’s stunning.
All in all, if you’re a history buff, then the Maratha Palace is a place you cannot miss on a visit to Thanjavur!
Read more about the south of India:
- Things to Do in Madurai
- Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Madurai
- Things to See in Pondicherry
- Things to Do in Fort Kochi
- Places to See in Auroville
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