A Journey to Chennai and Thanjavur: 2018 / 2

Thanjavur Palace

Within a few minutes, we reached the Thanjavur Palace. At first glance, it was evident that the palace was not in its best condition. Although restoration work was underway in certain areas, the exterior lacked proper maintenance and did not create the "wow" moment I had expected. Still, I remained hopeful and curious to explore what lay inside.

What saddened me more than the ageing structure was the untidy surroundings. While visiting such historical places, I often wonder why we, as Indians, fail to take the basic responsibility of keeping our heritage clean—something we readily practice when we are abroad. Is it because we often fail to value what we have at home, or perhaps because we take our freedom and heritage for granted?

We reached the palace at around 12 noon. A beautiful small temple of Lord Ganesha is seen near the entrance, welcoming visitors.

I am not sure whether it was the main entrance, but from there we noticed signboards pointing towards the Saraswathi Mahal Library and the Darbar Hall. Since the library was closed during our visit—I don't recall the exact reason—we decided to explore the Darbar Hall first.

The murals inside the palace were simply breathtaking. Despite the visible effects of age and inadequate maintenance, their beauty and craftsmanship still shone through.

Soon after, we came across a giant Thanjavur Bommai (Thanjavur dancing doll), one of the region's most famous cultural symbols.

Walking through the palace corridors, we reached a large open courtyard that connects different sections of the complex. From here, the impressive Manimandapam (Bell Tower) could also be seen.

The courtyard houses a beautiful Nandi statue, while the palace museum preserves numerous sculptures and artefacts, each accompanied by informative descriptions. We saw the Tulaja inscription, several ancient idols, including a Buddha statue, and many other historically significant exhibits.

As we explored, it started raining once again, prompting us to move indoors. Looking outside, we witnessed hundreds of parrots joyfully playing in the rain—a delightful sight. I had never seen so many parrots gathered in one place before.

The Thanjavur Palace, also known as the Maratha Palace or Nayak Palace, was originally built by the Thanjavur Nayaks, with significant additions later made by the Marathas. Its magnificent halls, supported by rows of grand pillars is amazing.

After spending considerable time reading the descriptions of the artefacts and admiring the sculptures, we walked towards the Maharaja Serfoji's Memorial Hall Museum.

Unfortunately, the issue of poor maintenance continued throughout the palace complex. Historical monuments like these deserve much better care, and preserving them should be a shared responsibility between the government and the public.

Creating awareness must begin at a young age. Beyond simply teaching history in classrooms, parents and teachers should actively encourage children to appreciate and protect our heritage. When young people are personally involved in understanding history, they develop a genuine sense of ownership and pride.

Although I completed my schooling in Dubai, UAE, my teachers enthusiastically taught us about India's rich history, its cultural significance, and the importance of preserving it for future generations. While I cannot claim to have made any contribution myself, I am happy that my daughter has developed a deep respect for India's heritage. What disappoints her is not India's history, but the lack of proper maintenance and the attitude of accepting things as they are. She often asks why, when the world is progressing so rapidly, we cannot maintain our historical sites or make better use of the facilities we already have.

Despite these shortcomings, she genuinely enjoys exploring India's historical treasures and feels proud of them. Interestingly, this is the same girl who once never wanted to leave Dubai but is now pursuing her higher education in India, hoping that one day she can contribute, even in a small way, towards the country. Being this said, She carries a deep sense of belonging to both countries and takes pride in the values and opportunities both countries are giving her.

Coming back to our visit, we climbed a long flight of steps leading to another museum section. While the collection itself was remarkable, many priceless artefacts appeared to be poorly displayed and inadequately preserved. It was quite disheartening, and after spending some time there, we decided to leave.

It should be noted that before visiting, the timings of both the palace museum and the Saraswathi Mahal Library must be checked. We spent around an hour exploring the palace complex. By then, it was lunchtime, and we headed out in search of a delicious vegetarian thali to continue our Thanjavur experience.