Tamil Tanjore Art Gallery - Preserve the 11th Century Art

Thanjavur is one of the most tourist friendly districts in Tamil Nadu, and sees the footfall of thousands of tourists from all across the globe. There cannot be a trip to Tanjore or Thanjavur without paying a visit to the temples which holds the testimony of time through its brilliant architectural skills.

Thanks to the traditional Thanjavur paintings, the place is also widely applauded for the traditional Thanjavur paintings. The Tamil Tanjore Art Gallery is one of the key places of interest in Tamil Nadu. In a nutshell, the museum exhibits myriad primeval items such as the Thanjavur paintings, statues from the Chola, Pallava, Nayaka and Pandiya periods. The place is commonly referred to as ‘Aranmanai’ or as Maratha Palace Complex.  The Nayakas, who were succeeded by the Marathas, constructed the palace. There are many sections in the palace complex and regardless of your interest in history, each section is worth spending time and witnessing the history!

Art & Bronze Gallery

If you are looking for an exquisite collection of ancient sculptures and coins, Tamil Tanjore Art Gallery is your place to be. Tamil Tanjore Art Gallery, also called the "Raja Raja Chola Art Gallery", has some of the rare bronze sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses from the 9th century A.D to 19th century A.D. Wide collections of old coins from as early as 300 B.C are exhibited here, which is definitely an astonishing option for numismatists.

The artefacts are placed in the Kings' royal court (Durbar Hall) which has richly ornate walls and ceilings with paintings and statuettes. Even the pillars and arches have fascinating depictions from Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. The collection of ancient bronze statues is obviously the highlight of the palace. The stone sculptors and bronze idols mainly belong to the Chola period, Vijayanagara period and of the later period.

Forming the Tamil Tanjore Art Gallery is an accident. An archaeologist from Calcutta wanted to take back an abandoned idol from Tanjore’s riverside which the locals protested. The idol was then placed on an empty corridor of this palace, the collector decreed to store all the derelict sculptures here, and thus, the Art Gallery came into existence in 1951.

The Major Idols in Tamil Tanjore Art Gallery

•    Enthol Mukkan Emman

This is a very rare depiction of Lord Shiva where he is shown as a demon. The form has the eight shoulders (Enthol) and has opened his third eye (Mukkan) and also has two sharp teeth coming out.  He is shown as unclad and has only two serpents around his waist. It is considered the only statue which is a diabolical representation of Shiva.

•    Brahmadhirayar Statue

This is an excellent example of a 10-11th century A.D bronze statue titled Brahmadhirayar is exhibited here. According to the experts, many suggest that it can be Aniruddha Brahmarayar, a minister of Parantaka Chola II. However, there are more likely suggestions that say the statue is of Krishnan Raman Brahmarayar, the commander-in-chief of Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola. The statue is of an obese man, with a loincloth and minimal ornaments. The small tuft of hair styled in the front suggests the typical representation of the Brahmin men at that time.

•    Bhikshatana Murti Sculpture

This is yet another sculpture of Lord Shiva but in a different mood. The Bhikshatana Murti (Bhikshu means 'mendicant') is shown standing wearing little clothes but is with wooden sandals, jewellery and with a snake enfolded around his waist. Beside the statue is a dancing deer, which stands on its hind legs and seems to reach up to Shiva's outstretched arm.

•    Sculpture of Vrishabhantika with the Devi

The Vrishabhantika with the Devi is another brilliant sculptural piece that showcases the beauty of the Indian artistic traditions. The sculpture here depicts the Lord Shiva, with one arm raised and bent, leaning on his bull – the Nandi. On the other hand, Devi is a separate sculpture illustrating the beauty, elegance, charm, and grace.

Ancient Coins

As said, Tamil Tanjore Art Gallery is a fascinating place for the numismatists. You can find some coins made of over 2000 years ago. Unfortunately, these coins are in deplorable conditions and are not arranged in chronological order.

•    Pudukottai Amman Coins

One of the fine examples of theological and political propaganda, which saved a young king, is these Pudukottai coins. According to records in 1889, the 14 years old King Thondaiman faced rebellion from his relatives. Fearing a coup, the loyal minister Seshayya Sastri circulated coins stating that the Goddess Brahadambal was the sole ruler of the kingdom of Pudukottai and the 14 year old king was only her behalf. This made political rebellion an act of blasphemy and punishable offence. The propaganda worked and the rest is history.

•    Mysore Tipu Sultan's Copper Coins

These coins have numerals in Arabic on one side and animal figurine on the other. The legendary Tipu Sultan introduced 1/4 Paisa, Half-Paisa, and Paisa coins during his reign and can be foun here.

Durbar Hall

As said, the art gallery is located at the Durbar hall and has a statue of King Serfoji II. Serfoji was an excellent King who spoke more than ten languages fluently, and also constructed the first zoo in the state of Tamil Nadu. Did you know, he also performed cataract surgery at his time? Also known as Sarabhoji Raja, the ruler is widely known for introducing administrative, social and educational reforms during his reign. He also commissioned the underground drainage system in Thanjavur.

Quick Facts

•    Address : Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613001
•    Timing : 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM, 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM
•    Closed : Open on all days except public holidays
•    Famous for: Statues, Paintings, Manuscripts, Learning, History and Photography
•    Visiting duration: Two hours approximately

Nearby Attractions

•    Brihadeeswara Temple
•    Sukkiran Temple
•    Ramaswamy Temple
•    Thiruvanajozhi Temple
•    Schwartz Church
•    Vellai Pulliar Temple
•    Sivaganga Garden
•    Apatsahayesvarar Temple

How to Reach

The Thanjavur Royal Palace and Art Gallery is located at a distance of 2km (1.2mi) from the Tanjore Railway Station and only at a distance of 500m (547yd) from the Old Bus Stand. The nearest airport is Trichy which is at a distance of 50km (31mi).