Saraswati Mahal library is one of the oldest library presents in India. The famous library is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. You can find a large variety of books in this place through which you can easily depict the culture of that time. Along with cultural books, various beneficial and Research books are also present at this place. This library comprises over 60,000 volumes. 

The famous Saraswati Mahal library is located outside of the Thanjavur Palace. Very few medieval manuscript libraries are present in India, and this library is one of them. 

A museum is also inside the Saraswati Mahal, showing some famous books. So, if you are someone who loves history and books, you should definitely add this place to your Tanjavur tour package. 

A special section is also present in the library where you can find the most famous and important books. Here, you will find great ancient books like Mahabharat, Sanskrit texts, Ramayana, and a lot more. You can even find Palm leaves scripts and scroll scripts in this library. 

History of the Saraswathi mahal library 

Earlier, during the rule of Nayak Kings, there was a need for a private library where important persons could come and sit together. For this reason, this particular library was formed from 1535 to 1675 AD. This library was then rebuilt by the Maratha rulers in 1675. 

However, various reconstruction of the library was done during the rules of various dynasties. Sarfoji to was a great ruler of the Maratha dynasty. He had great knowledge and a love for books and the arts. Because of this, he constructed the library on a large scale. He stored copies of the famous works done by various pandits and knowledgeable persons in the library. 

Because of the great work that Sarfoji did for the library, the library was renamed "The Thanjavur Maharaja Sarfoji Sarasvati Mahal library". 

Collection of the library 

Around 39300 manuscripts are present in this library. These manuscripts are written in Sanskrit. More than 3500000 Scripts are present in different languages like Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, and a lot more. A huge number of Marathi manuscripts are also present inside this library. This is because, at that time, various Maharashtrian saints belong to Dattatreya mutts. 

Around 846 Telugu manuscripts are also present in the library, and those are written on Palm leaves. As this library was reconstructed to a huge level during the rule of Marathas, so you will find various Maratha records in the library also. Around 1342 records of the Marathas are present here. So, among different places to visit in Thanjavur, you should add this library also if you are a history lover.

Museum of the library 

This famous Saraswati Mahal library has a museum also. Here you will find some of the most important books of that era which will describe the great culture of that time. Inside the library, paintings, atlases, and portraits are also present. The paintings will describe the ruling period of the Great Maratha Kings.