To the west, is a square building of black stone, in an outstanding dome-shaped hall, which have a chamber made of ivory inside it. A bejeweled throne was installed here, which the king graced during the Navaratra festivities. The harem and the queen's apartments were located to the west of Swargavilasa. None of which exists today. However, in the southwest part of the complex a morning room with black polished columns exists even today where the queen used to listen to music and literary discourses. The natakshala was a splendid hall measuring 22 m in length and 42 m in width in the northwest corner of the building. The roof is a pointed arch of brickwork strengthened by granite ribs springing from a double line of arches supported by columns. The palace shrine was located to the northeast of the building where Thirumalai Nayak offered prayers to goddess Rajrajeswari every morning. The shrine is richly carved in stone and the dome was covered with gold.

     The grandson of the king Thirumalai Nayak, Chokkanatha Nayak, demolished much of this palace and transferred the precious jewels and woodcarvings so that he could use it to build his own palace at Tiruchirapalli. In the 19th century AD, Lord Napier, the Governor of Madras made several restoration works between 1866 and 1872 AD. The palace was to house some officials of the judiciary and district administration. The only surviving buildings of the palace are the Swargavilasa and a few adjacent edifices but their awe-inspiring splendor has vanished. The courtyard is a square measuring 3,900 m and is surrounded by massive circular pillars. The Throne Chamber is a vast room with a raised, octagonal dome lies to the west. The throne Chamber leads to the Dance Hall.


     After independence, the Thirumalai Palace was declared as a national monument and is now under the protection of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department. The time for the visit to the palace is from 9 am to 5 pm on the payment of the entrance fee. The palace is well equipped to perform Light & Sound shows depicting the story of Silappathikaram in both Tamil and English languages. The show is for half an hour glorifies the merits of the King Thirumalai emphasizing particularly on his passion for arts, his victories in battle and his love for his subjects.

---

---

Page URL: http://www.madurainetwork.com/madurai/thirumalainayakpalace2.html

---

© 2006 Madurainetwork.com  Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Your Suggestions