Thanjavur Art Gallery is a popular destination for both tourists and locals interested in the ancient history, culture and heritage of the place. It has an excellent collection of sculptures and paintings associated with South India of the past.

Location and History

Thanjavur Art Gallery is situated in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. It was built in the stunningly beautiful Royal Palace of Thanjavur in 1600 AD. It is the palace of the Nayaks, the past viceroys of the Vijaya Nagara rulers who later ruled the place themselves. The gallery has an amazing and highly valued collection of sculptures made of stone, bronze and other artifacts, which represents the golden era of Tamil history. This was the time when the value for architecture was high and in demand among the Cholas.

Sculptures and Artifacts

The museum includes the Saraswati Library and the music hall called the Sangeet Sabha. There is also an art gallery within the museum. The museum and art gallery houses a fascinating selection of ancient sculptures and artifacts. The place can fascinate visitors with its rich collection of artifacts that represent the history and culture of the region.

A majority of the historical objects of the museum dates back to the Chola period between the ninth and the 13th centuries AD. There are also interesting objects and sculptures from the post-Chola period and the Nayak era which stretched from the 17th to the 18th century AD.

The Facade and Hall

The external façade of the museum has a gigantic tower and an arsenal, that’s brilliantly decorated with bands of arches. The hall is the sculpture gallery where stone sculptures from south India from the Pallava to the Nayak period are exhibited.

Other Attractions

A key attraction of the museum is the frescoes that were painted several decades ago in the glass painting style of Tanjore. They are seen on the Durbar Hall. There is also a magnificent bronze collection that includes work of art from the Pallava period to the Chola period. The depiction of sixteen Natarajas in various stages of the cosmic dance is another main attraction of the museum and so is the 12th century Nataraja from Tiruviddaimandin.

Salient Features

A majority of the paintings and sculptures displayed in the gallery were recovered after they were dug up from various places. Experts believe that they were buried to protect the priceless and invaluable work of art from theft and other threats. The art gallery is indeed unique and exceptional in many ways but primarily because it has a large collection of sculptures of Gods and Goddesses.

Information for Visitors

The Thanjavur Art Gallery is open for visitors from 0900 hrs to 1300 hrs and from 1500 hrs to 1800 hrs on all days. The gallery is closed on all national holidays. There is an entry fee of INR 20 for visitors.

How to Reach

By Road

Thanjavur Art Gallery is just a few kilometers from the main city. There are many buses and private taxis plying on the route.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Thanjavur Junction at just 2 km.

By Air

Trichy is the nearest airport at 60 km from the gallery.