Rajah Serfoji II Memorial Hall Museum at Sadar Mahal Palace,Thanjavur (Tamilnadu) is a private museum founded by Prince Tulajendra Rajah P. Bhosle (4th descendent of Thanjavur Maratha Scholar King Serfoji II) in 1997 A.D.
Sadar Mahal Palace was built in the year 1824 by King Serfoji II after his travel (Pilgrimage) to Kasi. The Sadar Mahal Palace is more than 190 years old and is situated north to the Krishna Vilas Tank, which is now closed. This was the residential palace of King Serfoji II and his descendants. Performing arts like drama, dance, music and other art forms were performed at the Sadar Mahal Palace. Proof of this is evident from the Marathi Modi documents in the 400 years old Sarasvati mahal library, Thanjavur.
The arts and artefacts collected by King Serfoji II are displayed in the erstwhile Residential palace museum of King Serfoji II which was opened to the public on 11th October 1997 by His Highness Prince Tulajendra Rajah Bhosle. This private museum was opened in the aim of showcasing the contribution of the Maratha kings to Thanjavur (Tamilnadu) and to South Indian culture and literature and also to make the general public aware of Thanjavur Maratha history.
The hall was restructured and repainted, it originally had some stucco work on the upper border of the wall. On display are household articles, costumes, gold and silver ware, armouries, earthenware, manuscripts, wooden and ivory objects, various kinds of paintings like oil, watercolor and so on. A small garden has been developed at the place where the Krishna Vilas Tank stood. A secret underground passage located on eastern side of the Sardar Mahal, which was in use till 1855 before being closed has also been reopened to the public. Refrigerator, fans, giant glass bottles (three and a half feet height), utensils, chairs of those days (that were used by the Maratha kings and queens of Thanjavur in 17th and 18th century) are kept in display for the public in the museum, ivory artefacts, antique Tanjore paintings, a rare portrait of Kanchi Sankarachariya made of grains are displayed in the museum for the visitors
Rajah Serfoji II memorial hall museum has completed 21 years on 11th October, 2018.
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