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| Non-classified heritage Mangala Vilas bldg. South main st. Thanjavur. Photo credit. J,R.Anand. |
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| west wing Mangala Vilas bldg. South main st. Thanjavur. Photo credit. J,R.Anand |
The Mangala Vilas building on South Main Street in Thanjavur stands today as one of the most evocative reminders of the Maratha presence in the region. Once part of a vibrant urban landscape around the fortified palace area, the structure reflects the architectural imagination and cultural life of the Bhonsle rulers who governed Thanjavur from the late seventeenth century until the mid-nineteenth century. Although now in a visibly deteriorated condition, Mangala Vilas remains significant for its association with the social history of the Maratha court, especially its unique institution of court-affiliated women performers.
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| Chhatri atop, Mangala vilas bldg. Thanjavur.kaminidandapani.typepad.com/ |
The building is believed to have been constructed in the early decades of the nineteenth century, most likely during or soon after the reign of Raja Serfoji II, the enlightened and culturally active monarch who ruled from 1798 to 1832. Under him, Thanjavur saw considerable architectural expansion as well as the institutionalisation of music, dance, literature and the decorative arts. Mangala Vilas emerged during this phase as a residential complex for the women attached to the royal court—women who were distinguished not merely for their beauty, but for their mastery of artistic traditions, particularly music and dance. These women, popularly known as the “Mangala Vilas ladies,” were not marginal figures; instead, they occupied a respected and well-supported position within the courtly order.
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| Mangala Vilas bldg. South main st. Thanjavur. facebook.com |
Historical records mention celebrated names such as Ladu Boi and Bayamma Boi, who were associated with this establishment. The system was formalised around 1824 with endowments that ensured allowances for the women and pensions for their children. Although they wore the tāli, they were not legally married, and their children were acknowledged and supported by the state. While part of this group lived in the Ayan Mahal and Huzur Mahal inside the main palace, a large number resided in the Mangala Vilas complex, transforming it into a space where art, performance and courtly etiquette were woven into everyday life. The building thus functioned both as a residence and as an institution closely tied to the cultural machinery of the Maratha administration.
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| Jharokha Saarja Madi Thanjavur Palace commons.wikimedia.org |
Architecturally, Mangala Vilas is a fine example of the stylistic blending that characterised the Maratha period in Thanjavur. Constructed on a base of laterite stone from Vallam and using thin, well-fired bricks set in lime mortar, the structure combines local building traditions with Rajasthani and Deccani influences. Its most striking features are the jharokhas on the first floor and the open chhatris that crown the terrace—elements rarely found in Tamil Nadu but prominent in the Maratha palaces of Kolhapur and in North Indian architecture. The projecting chajjas, long verandah rooms, high ceilings, polished lime plaster with organic additives, sturdy granite staircases and Madras-terrace roofing all contribute to its visual richness. A photograph taken in 1869 by Samuel Bourne, which won an international award, documents the building’s elegance before modern alterations and decay set in.
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| Chhatries, New palace kolhapur flickr.com |
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| Chhatri" on New Palace Kolhapur commons. wikimedia.org |
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| Chhatri, with eves Jodhpur, Rajasthan, alamy.com |
Today, Mangala Vilas is threatened by structural damage, encroachments and neglect. Sections of its upper floors are unsafe, vegetation has taken root in its walls and part of its space is occupied by a school that has functioned there for decades. Even so, the building encapsulates a vital chapter of Thanjavur’s layered past—the artistic world of the Maratha court, the social structures surrounding women performers and the hybrid architectural vocabulary the Bhonsles introduced. With sensitive restoration and imaginative reuse, Mangala Vilas could yet be reclaimed as a landmark of the city’s living heritage. Partly based on
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2023/01/thanjavur-maratha-building-mangala_31.html
