H@R 61/365 Muktambal Chattram Orathanad, Thanjavur District. Tamil Nadu

H@R 61/365

Muktambal Chattram Orathanad, Thanjavur District. Tamil Nadu

Many structures in the region were built of mud, bricks, timber and other such perishable materials and hence, have not survived. The earliest surviving secular buildings are the palaces and military structures of the Vijayanagar-Nayak and Maratha dynasties (14th to 19th century). Maratha period buildings like chattrams (resthouses or inns) in the Thanjavur area such as Muktambal Chattram in Orathanad and traditional residences in many parts of rural Tamil Nadu are under severe threat. The Chattram was built by Sarfoji Raja II in 1802 CE and now is in a state of neglect. The lack of user-friendly guidelines for such buildings adds to the challenges.