Description of the attraction
Tirumalai Nayakkar Mahal - a magnificent palace of the 17th century, was built in 1636 at the request of a representative of the Nayak dynasty named Tirumalai - the ruler of the principality of Madurai. The building combines Dravidian and Islamic architectural styles, therefore it combines grace and deliberate splendor of the East.
Tirumalai Nayak was an outstanding ruler known for his modern outlook and innovative solutions. During his reign, many beautiful buildings were built, among which the aforementioned palace stands out, which was conceived as the central building of the city, attracting everyone's attention.
Tirumalai Nayakkar was a huge palace complex, parts of which were separated over time and turned into separate buildings. Therefore, at the moment the palace is represented only by the main "building", which is called Svagra Vilasam and several adjacent buildings.
Svagra Vilasam is a vast octagonal room, the main attraction of which is the audience hall, decorated with columns and 12-meter arches, as well as crowned with huge domes. It is especially admired for its beautiful carved borders with floral ornaments.
In addition to Swagr Vilasam, there were many other noteworthy places in the palace: royal bedchambers, theater, armory rooms, pond, garden, dance hall.
After India's independence, Tirumalai Nayakkar Mahal was declared a national monument and became one of the main tourist attractions in the state. It is open to the public almost daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
