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Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Madurai Guy

Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace is a spectacle of Indo-Western palatial brilliance in Madurai. Built by King Thirumalai Nayak (or Nayakkar) in circa 1636, Thirumalai Nayak Mahal covers a large expanse of land in the city which is 2.5 km from the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace History: The palace was built by Thirumalai Naicker, the greatest of Nayakkar kings of Madurai.  The Nayaks ruled Madurai from 1545 till 1740, after the Pandya kings. History of Madurai reveals that they were originally governors of the Vijayanagar Empire (based in Karnataka). As the empire broke up and declined, the Nayaks gained control over their governing regions and became rulers of the cities they controlled.

Thirumalai Nayak constructed this palace in 1636 with the help of an Italian architect who visited Madurai around that time. As the abode of the king, the palace participated in activities in and around Madurai. The king and the Nayak Prime Minister Arya Natha Mudaliyar was instrumental in restoration of other architectural monuments in the city like the Meenakshi Amman Temple, the Thirupparamkundram Temple and the Mariamman Teppakulam (water tank). The palace was actively involved in the Scepter festival, Navarathri, Chithirai festival, Masi festival, Float festival and Panguni Peruvila.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace Architecture: The palace is the place where Thirumalai Naicker lived and held his court. The palace complex area was originally four times bigger than it is now, consisting of two portions – Swarga vilasa and Ranga vilasa. There were also other portions like the palace shrine, harem, theater, royal band stand, armory and other structures which were used to accommodate palanquins, royal chariots,  relatives, servants, guests and other regal paraphernalia.

Palace Design: Thirumalai Nayak Palace has a minimalistic and rather-bland exterior. But on the interior, its grandeur is unparalleled and extraordinary that many of its contemporaries in India. The palace is a blend of Italian, Islamic, European and Dravidian style of architecture. While the domes and arches signify the Islamic touch, the huge and tall white columns speak for the Italian style. The Dravidian style is visible in the patterns on the walls, the ceiling, the windows and the arch ways of the palace.

Palace Layout: On entering the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, one comes across a large central courtyard measuring 3,900 sq.m. This expansive and open courtyard area is flanked by huge white circular pillars on all four sides. The Courtyard and the Dance Hall are the major attractions of the palace. The Swarga Vilasa or celestial pavilion was used as the throne room (arcaded by an octagon dome 60-70 feet high) while the Dance Hall was used for dance, music and other entertainment activities by the royalty.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace specialties: Thirumalai Nayak Mahal, managed by the Archaeological Department of India, was declared a National Monument after the Indian independence. The palace has an archaeological museum which houses artifacts, idols, pottery, pillar-stones, scripts and paintings unearthed from various places in South India, right from the 102 A.D. Restored in 1858 by Lord Napier (the then Governor of Madras), Thirumalai Naicker Palace is open from 9 AM to 5 PM for visitors.

Sound and Light Show: Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a feast to the eyes in the evening. The Indian cultural department conducts the famous Sound and Light Show at the palace premises daily. The show, an amazing spectacle of sound and light, narrates in a subtle and interesting way the lifetimes of King Thirumalai. Myriad hues of light plays truant with the palace walls transforming the dark courtyard and surrounding area into a real vista of the Thirumalai Nayak’s Madurai. The show is an ode to King Thirumalai and his glory. It presents anecdotes from his life – his victories, his enemies, his daily routine, his passion for arts and his vision for the city – in dramatic and regal splendor. The palace turns into a symphony of sound and light at night time, with every pillar becoming an eloquent story teller and every cornerstone narrating the glory of the past.

The Sound and Light show takes place every day  from 6.30 PM (IST). The English show happens at 6.30 PM while the Tamil (local language) show is scheduled at 8 PM. The duration of each show is half an hour.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace: Overview