Saraswathi Mahal Library Tourism

The Saraswathi Mahal Library, also known as Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library, is one of the oldest libraries in Asia, located in the historic city of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. Founded around 1700 AD and open to the public since 1918, the library is a treasure trove of knowledge with a rich collection that includes rare palm leaf manuscripts and paper written in Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Marathi, and a few other languages indigenous to India. This repository of knowledge is situated within the Vijayanagara fort complex and is part of the Thanjavur Palace. It has been meticulously preserved and serves as an important research facility for scholars studying the medieval South Indian written word, arts, culture and history. The building itself is a fine example of traditional Indian architecture.