The Palace
Just 1 km away from the Brihageeswarar Temple is a magnificent palace, surrounded by the huge for walls. Dating back to the 14th century AD., it was built partly by the Naks and partly by the Marathas. The Maratha royal family resides in this palace. It is a fascinating building with huge corridors, spacious halls, decorated rooms, tall observation towers, beautiful stucco works, wonderful fresco painted walls and ceilings, an underground tunnel and intricate carvings. The royal family’s sacred “Chandra mauleeshwarar Temple” is located within the palace walls.
Art Gallery
The art gallery has fabulous collection of bronze icons, stones sculpture and pieces of art. The collection is unique for its large representation of Hindu God and Goddesses, myths and legends. The exhibits are priceless for their historical association. Timings: 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm. Closed on national holidays.
Saraswathi Mahal Library
Thanjavur Maharaj Serfoji’s Saraswathi Mahal Library is one among a few libraries in the world with texts of the medieval period. It is a treasure house of knowledge carefully fostered and nurtured by successive dynasties of Nayakkas and the Marathas of Thanjavur. It contains rare valuable collection of manuscripts, books, maps and paintings on all aspects of Art, Culture and Literature. The Encyclopedia Britannica, in its survey of the Libraries of the world, describes it as “ the most remarkable Library in India”. This Library was made a Public Library in 1918. Timings: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Closed on Wednesdays and Govt.Holidays.
Rajarajan Mani Mandapam
It is the southern part of Thanjavur. It is was built during the 8th World Tamil Conference in 1995. This Manimandapam has museum in its ground floor. Timings: 10.00 am to 5.45 pm. Holiday-Wednesday.
Schwartz Church
This church was built adjacent to Siva Ganga Tank in 1779 AD by Rajah Serfoji as taken of his affection to his tutor Rev.C.V.Schwartz, a Danish missionary.
