Saraswathi Mahal Library
சரசுவதி மகால் நூலகம்
One of the oldest libraries in Asia, holding tens of thousands of palm-leaf manuscripts and paper manuscripts, with a small exhibition hall displaying ancient books and maps.
The Saraswathi Mahal Library is located inside the Thanjavur Royal Palace. It originated as the royal book collection of the Nayak dynasty in the 16th century and was greatly expanded in the 19th century by the Maratha king Serfoji II. It holds around 49,000 palm-leaf and paper manuscripts in Sanskrit, Tamil, Marathi, Telugu and other languages, along with European antique books, maps and medical illustrations. The collection rooms are not open to the public, but visitors can tour the attached museum to see ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, Serfoji II’s book collection and illustrated manuscripts. Admission is inexpensive. It is closed on Wednesdays (check locally), and it takes about half an hour to visit alongside the other exhibition halls in the palace.
Opening hours
Thu–Tue 10:00–13:00 and 13:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Thanjavur Maratha Palace
- Schwartz Church
- Brihadisvara Temple
- Punnainallur Mariamman Temple
- Aiyarappar Temple, Thiruvaiyaru
- Swaminatha Swamy Temple, Swamimalai
- Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram
- Adi Kumbeswarar Temple