Sangeetha Mahal, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu India

Thanjavur, also known by its anglicised name Tanjore, is a municipality and the headquarters of the Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is one of the oldest cities in India and has a long and varied history dating back to Sangam period. Thanjavur is an important centre of South Indian art and architecture. Most of the Great Chola Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument are located in an around Thanjavur. The Hall of Music or Sangeetha Mahal is located on the first floor of the Tanjore palace. This is the place where the musicians and dancers performed in front of the Chola and Nayak rulers and is an excellent piece of skilled craftsmanship that speaks volumes about the ancient builders and architects. The nearest airport is at Trichy, 65 km from Thanjavur. Thanjavur is well connected with a network of railways to and from Trichy, Chennai, Madurai and Nagore. It is equally well connected by roads to all the major towns and cities.

 Sangeetha Mahal or the Hall of Music is also located within The Palace and is called Sangeetha Mahal. It is an acoustically perfect music hall, and is a striking example of the engineering skill of the ancient builders. The then "Sangeetha Mahal" has been converted to a handicrafts exhibition centre now which has handicrafts from local artisans. Thanjavur is the cradle for many of the arts and crafts in South India. Carnatic music as we know it today was codified in Thanjavur as was Bharathanatyam.

Sangeetha Mahal or the Hall of Music is a must-see place for tourists who visit Thanjavur. It is located in the Thanjavur Palace on the first floor. It was built in the early part of the 17th century during the rule of Sevappa Nayak, a Nayak king.

In the times of Chola and Nayak rulers, the Sangeetha Mahal was used as a place for performances by various musicians and dancers. It is a lasting symbol of the excellent craftsmanship exhibited by the builders and architects of the period. The perfect acoustics of the musical hall are guaranteed to leave many a visitor in a contemplative mood as it pertains to the supreme knowledge possessed by those who designed it. In its heyday, music contests between great musicians of the time used to be held in the hall.