Thanjavur Royal Palace - It Contains A Collection Of Chola, Bronzes and Stone Carvings

Thanjavur Royal Palace -  It Contains A Collection Of Chola, Bronzes and Stone Carvings

Thanjavur’s royal palace is a mixed bag of ruin and renovation, superb art and random royal paraphernalia. The maze-like complex was constructed partly by the Nayaks who took over Thanjavur in 1535, and partly by a local Maratha dynasty that ruled from 1676 to 1855. The two don't-miss sections are the Saraswati Mahal Library Museum and the Art Gallery.

Seven different sections of the palace can be visited. ‘Full’ tickets include the Art Gallery and Saraswati Mahal Library Museum, along with the Mahratta Dharbar Hall, bell tower and Saarjah Madi; other sections require extra tickets. The main entrance is from the north, off East Main St. On the way in you’ll come to the main ticket office, followed by the Maratha Palace complex.

Past the ticket office, a passage to the left leads to, first, the Royal Palace Museum, a small miscellany of sculptures, weaponry, elephant bells and rajas’ headgears; second, the Maharaja Serfoji Memorial Hall, commemorating the enlightened Maratha scholar-king Serfoji II (1798–1832), with a better collection overlooking a once-splendid, now crumbling courtyard; and third, the Mahratta Dharbar Hall, where Maratha rulers gave audience in a grand but faded pavilion adorned with colourful murals (including their own portraits behind the dais) and sturdy pillars topped by arches filled with gods.

Exiting the passage, the fabulous Sarawasti Mahal Library Museum is on your left, through a vibrant entranceway. Perhaps Serfoji II’s greatest contribution to posterity, this is testimony both to the 19th-century obsession with knowledge accumulation and to an eclectic mind that collected prints of Chinese torture methods, Audubon-style paintings of Indian flora and fauna, world atlases, dictionaries and rare medieval books. Serfoji amassed more than 65,000 books and 50,000 palm-leaf paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages, though most aren’t displayed. Hourly audiovisual displays (10.30am to 4.30pm) highlight Thanjavur’s sights, history and traditions in the attached cinema room.

Leaving the library, turn left for the Art Gallery, set around the Nayak Palace courtyard behind the bell tower. It contains a collection of superb, mainly Chola, bronzes and stone carvings; its main room, the 1600 Nayak Durbar Hall, has a statue of Serfoji II. From the courtyard, steps lead part of the way up a large gopuram-like tower to a whale skeleton that washed up in Tranquebar.

The renovated Saarjah Madi is best admired from East Main Rd for its ornate balconies.Travelling to Thanjavur by train is cheap, safe and enjoyable. Many trains ply to the Thanjavur Junction on a daily basis. Air-conditioned buses are also available for the commute. Thanjavur Royal Palace is located on the main road and can be easily reached by hiring a cab. The palace is located in proximity with the railway station and bus stand.

By Air

Nearest airport to Thanjavur is the Civil Airport, which is in Tiruchirappalli. The airport is at a distance of approximately 48 km from the city centre. Public transport is easily available for the commute. Also, Pondicherry Airport is at a distance of 138 km from this destination.

By Train

Travelling to Thanjavur by train is cheap, safe and enjoyable. Many trains ply to the Thanjavur Junction on a daily basis. Air-conditioned buses are also available for the commute. Thanjavur Royal Palace is located on the main road and can be easily reached by hiring a cab. The palace is located in proximity with the railway station and bus stand.

Tallest Waterfall In Maharastra Of India - Bhambavli Vajrai Waterfall

Tallest Waterfall In Maharastra Of India - Bhambavli Vajrai Waterfall

Bhambavli Vajrai Waterfall (tallest waterfall of India) might be a very apt place for you. The waterfall is situated in district of Satara in western Maharashtra. It is about 5 km away from Kas Flower Valley.  The lush green mountains and the flowers in nearby flower valley please your senses. The pleasant weather actually relaxes you like anything. But the star attraction of this place is tranquility The place is simply deserted and there are no hawkers, unwanted guides and cameramen to disturb you.

At the outset, when you see this waterfall from a distance then it doesn’t seem to be a waterfall also. You just see a white thread on the rocky background of Sahyadris. But when you reach near the waterfall and just have a look at it, and then you understand the enormity of it. 

The roaring water flows at very high speed and you can’t hear anything when you are in the vicinity of the fall. The height of this waterfall is 1840 feet and it falls from a straight cliff. The water for waterfall comes from the river Urmodi. It is origin of river Urmodi.

The waterfall is perennial in nature and hence you will hardly find any day when it’s gone dry (flows 12 months in a year).

Now a day we hear a lot about the news of Kas Plateau/ Flower Valley being declared to be a world heritage site. The place is visited by UNESCO representatives as a part of observations of Flower Valley. But it’s a surprise that this place remained unnoticed by the media or trekkers or tourists. 

Most recently it came into news when a Marathi news channel had telecast a documentary on this waterfall. Maharashtra government has proposed the project named ‘Mini Mahabaleshwar’ which includes building tourists facilities at this area and constructing proper roads to reach this place. But as of now nothing has started.

So, it is a perfect weekend destination for all age groups. Just come here, enjoy the greenery, have a delicious Maharashtrian food in the silky grain farms and most importantly forget everything in the tranquility of this place. While you go back to your places you will carry a hell lot of energy and enthusiasm with you.

The 2 days trip will rejuvenate you and will help you reconnect to yourself. So, all are invited, the waterfall is waiting for you.

This is a place nearby to Sajjangadh.  Marathi Saint Ramdas Swami stayed at Sajjangadh for many years and did his meditation there. Religious people visit this place to bow before his Samadhi. The Great Maratha King Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also visited this place many times to discuss various issues and take blessings of  Saint Ramdas Swami.

Some details of the surrounding area are given for your reference.

Flora & Fauna:     Variety of flora and fauna found in surrounding dense forest of Bhambavli.  Scare variety of flowers found in the forest.  We can find different kind of plants and tress.

Ayurvedic/medicinal/herbal plants: Some plants are named as follows – Adulsa (useful for Cough and Cold) Shikekai (used for Shampoo), kadulims (used for various diseases), creeper used by diabetic patients, Hirda (medical pizza (for colour) murud stick, Ashwgand, etc.

Fruits:  You will find trees like mango, black berry, banana, Jamun (Black plum), guava, jackfruit, sweet lime, lemon, cherry trees etc.

Flowers:   You will find flowers like marigold,  shoe flower, eared jasmine, champak (chafa), rose, night shade, vinca – rose, sunflower etc.

Trees :   Fig tree, mango tree, neem, bamboo, aloe (korfad), Jambool, toddy palm, basil, Nilgiri, cactus (Nivdung), peepul (Pimpal), Jack-fruit tree, babul, banian tree (Ved), creepers/climbing plants, teak etc.

Birds :   Cuckoo, crow, hen, kife, owl, sparrow, peenit (titvi), raven (dom crow), parrot, nightingale myna, peacock, peahen (landor) woddpeeker, quail (lava).

Domestic Animals:  Dog, Cow, buffalo, bull, groat, calf etc

Wild Animals:  Iguana (Ghorpad) bear, fox, bisan, hyena (tavas), monkey, mongoose, boar, tiger dear, deer, squirrel, snail, etc.

Animals in water:  Crab, frog, fish,etc.

Reptiles   :  Snakes, lizard, scorpion, Chamelon, etc.

Insects:   Fire fly (Kajva), Spider, earthworm, centipede (Ghon), leech (jalu), Locust (Tol), grass-hopper  termit, scorpion, caterpillar etc.

Nearby other places to visit:

KAS FLOWER VALLEY in the month of July to October.
Bamnoli & Tapole – for boating.
Sajjangadh Fort – Samadhi of Saint Ramdas.
Thoseghar Waterfall.
Chalkewadi for Windmills,.
Mahabaalleshwar – Hill Station
Pachgani – Hill Station
Wai – Ganpati
Gondavale – Samadhi of Saint Gondvalekar Maharaj.
Koyna-Chandoli Tiger Sanctuary
Precautions to be taken by Tourists while visiting  Bhambavli Vajrai Waterfall.

Visit only between 8.00 am to 5.00 pm every day.
Avoid visiting this place in heavy rains
Prohibited to eat non-veg one km nearby the waterfall
This is plastic free zone; don’t throw plastic bags, water bottles etc.
Prohibited consumption of Alcohol
Swimming is also prohibited (Ponds are quite deep)
Trekking Precautions:

Wear appropriate footwear
Rock faces can get very slippery.
Streams as well as ponds are quite deep.
Don’t eat leaves, flowers and fruits, mushroom etc. unless you are sure that they are safe.  They could be poisonous.
Be agile and cautious, as there are chances of encounters with reptiles like snakes, insects. Wild animals like tiger, bear etc.
Route to reach Bhambavli Vajrai Waterfall:

By Air 

Pune is nearest place to reach to Satara and then to Bhambavli Vajrai Waterfall.  From Pune you have to go by road to Satara – Kas – From Kas to Tambi – Bhambavli.

By Road:

  (1) Satara to Kas, Kas to Tambi – Bhambavli

 (2)  Mahabaleshwar to Tapola, Bambnoli- Kas,  Kas to Tambi – Bhambavli.

Accommodation at Satara & Bhambavli

The place is far from developmental activities. Hence you will not find any hotels in this area. You will have to stay in hotels at Satara. You may prefer to stay at village Bhambavli in their traditional homes; this stay will give you a chance to live a rural life. You will see how these people live and earn their bread and butter. The quality of food at these homes will also be delicious that you cannot resist it. Fresh vegetables, fruits will enhance your spirits. And all this is available at nominal cost.

MOST IMPOROTANT:

Not to enter dense forest without a Guide.  Guide is available in Village Bhambavli at reasonable rate.  Currently they take Rs.200/- per day.  One whole day is required to be spent to enjoy at Bhambavli Vajrai Waterfall.