Thanjavur Royal Palace and Museum

The basics

There are seven attractions within Thanjavur Royal Palace and three ticketed sections open to visitors. Two standouts are the Saraswati Mahal Library Museum and the Art Gallery, which you can visit together with the same admission ticket. The library displays a collection of 18th- and 19th-century naturalist paintings and manuscripts, while the Art Gallery exhibits bronze sculptures and stone carvings.

Other highlights include the ornate, 8-story Arsenal Tower, the Royal Palace Museum—which displays royal clothing and a whale skeleton that washed ashore in the 1950s—and the colorful Maratha Durbar Hall. Some sections of the royal palace have fallen into ruin, so to make the most of your visit, come with a guide who can explain the historical context. You’ll find plenty of private and customizable options, many that combine visits to Chola-era landmarks in Thanjavur and nearby Trichy.

Things to know before you go

• When you’re visiting the Saraswati Mahal Library Museum, check out the audiovisual display in the cinema room for a primer on the history and cultural traditions of Thanjavur. They’re usually shown hourly.

• Keep in mind that the ticket office closes every day around lunch time, so arrive in the morning or early afternoon to buy your admission tickets.

• There’s a small camera fee payable at the ticket office; there are plenty of photo opportunities here, so the minor extra cost (typically less than a US dollar depending on exchange rates) is well worth it.

• Many paintings depict scenes from two ancient Sanskrit epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Try to familiarize yourself with the narratives—or come with a guide—to understand the millennia-old mythological stories behind the vibrant illustrations.

How to get there

Thanjavur Royal Palace is centrally located within Thanjavur, very close to the Chola-built Brihadeshwara Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. If coming from outside the city, the nearest airport is in Tiruchirappalli (about an hour’s drive away). You can also take a train to Thanjavur Railway Station or bus to Thanjavur old bus stand and then continue by taxi or auto-rickshaw. Guided tours tend to include hotel pickup and drop-off.

When to get there

Thanjavur Royal Palace is open every day from morning until early evening, although it closes for a daily lunch break. The museums observe public holidays, so check an up-to-date calendar when planning your visit. Weather-wise, the ideal window for visiting Tamil Nadu is from the milder (but still warm and sunny) winter season lasting from November to March. To see everything, put aside at least a couple of hours.

On the trail of the Chola dynasty: Brihadeshwara Temple

Just a 6-minute drive from Thanjavur Royal Palace, the 1,000-year-old Brihadeshwara Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also a living temple, meaning worshippers still flock here to honor Shiva, just as they did centuries ago. Legend has it that the idea to build it came to Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola in a dream. The result is a feat of ancient architecture and engineering that still baffles modern visitors. One of India’s largest temples, it’s visible in the distance from up to two miles (3.5 kilometers).