Sadar Mahal Palace, Thanjavur.

Maharajah Serfoji II memorial hall.,P.C: alamy.

P.C: alamy.

P.C:alamy.

Goddess Sarasvati sculpted on wall in Krishna Vilas, Sadar Mahal. P.C: alamy.

Krishna Vilas, Sadar Mahal. P.C: alamy.

Sadar Mahal., P.C: alamy.

Canvas painting of King Serfoji II in Thanjavur Maharajah Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal library (TMSSML).,P.C: alamy.

Painting of Maratha King on Ivory in Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall Sadar Mahal Palace Thanjavur.,P.C: alamy.

Painting of Maratha King (told to be King Shivaji II, The last maratha King of Thanjavur) on Ivory in Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall, Sadar Mahal Palace Thanjavur.,P.C: alamy.

Oil painting of King Serfoji II in Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall, Sadar Mahal Palace Thanjavur.,P.C: alamy.

Painting of Samartha Ramdas in Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall, Sadar Mahal Palace Thanjavur.,P.C: alamy.

Goddess Sarasvati sculpted on wall at Krishna Vilas in Sadar Mahal Palace.,P.C: alamy.

Krishna Vilas in Sadar Mahal Palace.,P.C:alamy.

Sadar Mahal.,P.C: alamy.

Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj painting in Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall, Sadar Mahal Palace.,P.C: alamy.

Oil painting of King Serfoji II in Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall, Sadar Mahal Palace Thanjavur.,P.C: alamy.

Antique Tanjore painting of Goddess Sarasvati in Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall, Sadar Mahal Palace.,P.C: alamy.

Maratha Darbar hall in Thanjavur (Tamilnadu) palace complex built by King Shahaji II (ruled Thanjavur from 1684- 1712 A.D). The maratha rule in Thanjavur (Tamilnadu, South India) was founded by King Venkoji alias Ekoji in 1676 A.D. He was the half brother of Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj, born to Tukabai and King Shahaji in Bangalore.

The walls and ceilings of maratha darbar Hall show deities like Shiva and Vishnu, as well as scenes from the Ramayana.

Panther seated at Krishna Vilas, Sadar Mahal Palace, Thanjavur. This art is done by famous German artist named Karen Knorr.

Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall.,P.C: Pratap Raje.

Krishna Vilas, Sadar Mahal Palace. P.C: From our Archive.

Krishna Vilas, Sadar Mahal Palace.

Entrance at Sadar Mahal palace to Maharajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall.,P.C: Pratap Raje.

Entrance arch to Sadar Mahal Palace.,P.C: Pratap Raje.

Coat of arms of Sadar Mahal Palace.,P.C: Pratap Raje.

Maharajah Serfoji ll Memorial hall, Sadar Mahal Palace, Thanjavur 613009.

In order to preserve the heritage of the illustrious maratha royal dynasty of Thanjavur and the antiques of King Serfoji ll, H.H Prince Tulajendra Rajah P. Bhosle, 4th descendent of King Serfoji ll had formed trust and proposed to open a museum at "Sadar Mahal" in the palace premises in the name of "Maharajah Serfoji ll memorial hall".

The museum was declared opened for public viewing in the year 1997.

The Sadar Mahal Palace is more than 190 years old and is situated north to the Krishna Vilas Tank, which is now closed. This was the residential palace of King Serfoji II and his descendants. Performing arts like drama, dance, music and other art forms were performed at the Sadar Mahal Palace. Proof of this is evident from Marathi Modi documents in the Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal library (TMSSML).

The arts and artefacts collected by King Serfoji II are displayed in the erstwhile residential palace of King Serfoji.

The museum was opened by Prince Tulajendra Rajah ji in an aim of showcasing the contribution of Maratha kings to Thanjavur, South Indian culture and literature and to make the general public aware of Thanjavur maratha history.

The hall was restructured and repainted, it originally had some stucco work on the upper borders of the wall. On display are household articles, costumes, gold and silver ware, armouries, earthenware, manuscripts, wooden and ivory objects, various kinds of paintings like oil, water colour and so on. A small garden had been developed at the place where the Krishna Vilas tank stood. A secret underground passage located on eastern side of the Sadar Mahal, which was told to be in use till 1855 before being closed, had been reopened for public viewing.

Working Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(Except on National Holidays)

The current trustees of Maharajah Serfoji II memorial hall (Private museum), Sadar Mahal Palace are the sons of late H.H Prince Tulajendra Rajah Bhosle :