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| Chatram,a representative image indiatimes.com/ |
An 18th century chatram (choultry) in Thanjavur District is now in a dilapidated condition due to official apathy and lack of maintenance. The Yamunambaal chatram, built by Maratha king Pratap Sinha (1739-1763) in Needamangalam, 30 km from Thanjavur is so bad it may collapse soon despite requests from heritage lovers and activist..
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| Thanjavur Maratha ruler Pratap Singh, en.wikipedia.org |
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| Muktambal Bai chatram in Orathanad, facebook.com |
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| Muktambal Bai chatram in Orathanad, Thanjavur Dist. TN thehindu.com |
An 18th-century Maratha-style choultry in Thanjavur district, the Yamunambaal Chatram at Needamangalam, stands today in a state of neglect and ruin, despite its historical and cultural significance.
Built between 1739 and 1763 by Maratha ruler King Pratap Singh, the chatram was named after his wife, Yamunamba Bhai. The surrounding village was once called Yamunambal Puram, and the site included not only the palatial choultry but also a lake, temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, and an agraharam for priests and supervisors. Designed in the Maratha architectural style, the main mandapam of the chatram was decorated with striking motifs, including horses and elephants carved as if pulling the structure, with mahouts carrying swords. Granite was used extensively in the basement, adding durability, yet centuries of neglect have pushed the structure close to collapse.
Chatrams introduced during the Maratha rule in Thanjavur (1674–1855) were innovative charitable institutions. They catered to pilgrims, especially those from northern India who undertook long and arduous journeys to Rameswaram. At least 20 such choultries were built across Thanjavur, each with an attached tank to provide drinking water and other amenities. These were more than resting places—they were community centers that reflected the Marathas’ concern for the welfare of travelers and their vision of hospitality rooted in dharma.
The Yamunambaal Chatram, however, has not received the attention it deserves from authorities. Despite repeated appeals from historians, heritage activists, and local communities, the site remains under the jurisdiction of the Thanjavur Collectorate, which has not initiated conservation efforts. Historian and archaeologist Ayyampettai N. Selvaraj, who has documented and excavated several ancient sites in the region, even filed an RTI petition to highlight the building’s importance. Yet the response he received was dismissive, with officials citing its charitable nature as a reason for withholding details. Such bureaucratic apathy has left the structure crumbling.
The absence of a coordinated conservation policy, lack of funds, and low prioritization of Maratha heritage in Tamil Nadu have all contributed to the chatram’s decay. Unless urgent measures are taken, this architectural testimony of 18th-century Maratha benevolence in Thanjavur may soon be lost forever. Its preservation is not only about saving a building but about safeguarding a cultural legacy that once linked distant pilgrims with the fertile Cauvery delta.
The TN Government should restore or repair such damaged chatrams and convert themi into Tourist Lodges which prospective tourists could use them.
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2025/08/chatrams-road-side-inns-built-by.html
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