Sivaganga Palace

Sivaganga Palace lies some 40 km from Madurai and was the residence of the queens of Sivaganga: Velu Nachiyar lived here from 1780 to 1790, Vellacci Nachiyar from 1790 to 1793 and Rani Kaathama Nachiar from 1864 to 1877. The first palace, built in 1730, is where Veerapandiya Kattabomman and the Maruthu Pandiyar brothers are said to have met in secret to plan an attack on the East India Company. Attacked repeatedly between 1762 and 1789, it has not survived.

The present building, Gowri Vilasam, was raised in the early 19th century by Gowry Vallabha Thevar and follows the Tirumala Naicker style with touches of Rajput design. Now dilapidated, it still holds a working temple to Sri Raja Rajeshwari, whom the composer Papanasam Sivan is said to have praised in song. The grounds hold the old durbar hall; a square of black marble holding a carved marble seat, once used for crowning kings and for holding court; and the teppakulam, a large masonry tank before the palace.