Thirumala Naicker Nayakar Mahal in Madurai - Madurai Tourism

Thirumalai Nayak ruled Madurai in the early 17th Century. Not only was he the greatest of Nayaks, He was the greatest ruler Madurai ever had. His reign was peaceful and stable. He patronized the arts and he was known to be a great builder of religious and secular buildings.

Among the many buildings that were constructed under his guidance, the Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal is the jewel in the crown. In its current state one can see that there is a large courtyard surround by lofty columns. During Thirumalai Nayaks time, one could only enter the courtyard from within the palace. However now, the eastern wall has been knocked down and it has become the main entrance.

This is one of the important tourist attractions situated very near the temple. The Swargavilasa and Rangavilasa are the two parts in the palace. There are various other places in the palace where the tourists are not allowed to go. The tourist can visit the palace for an entrance fee. It is said that during the British rule in India , the place was used for administrative purposes. Now the Archaeological Department of the country has declared the palace as a national monument and has renovated it. In the evenings, light and sound show takes place in the palace in which the life history of the king and his rule in Madurai are being told with sound and light effects.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace History:

The palace was built by Thirumalai Naicker, the greatest of Nayakkar kings of Madurai in circa 1636,. 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 Palace Architecture:

The palace is where Thirumalai Nayaker 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.

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.

Reasons for degradation:

After the reign of Thirumalai Nayak, his grandson decided to move the capital to Thiruchirappalli and transported large chunks – granite stone, etc. to Trichy. During the British reign the walls were broken off and used to build houses nearby. Then there was complete neglect, sometimes a wall fall on its own, sometimes had to be pulled down as it was dangerous. It was also probably because it was a secular structure and did not receive the same respect that was given to temples, churches or mosques. Finally from the 1850s – Napier, the Governor of Madras, Blackburn the collector of Madurai and Chisholm – a legendary architect worked together to preserve what was left of the palace.

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.