Maligaimedu Chola Palace - Excavation Site / மாளிகைமேடு சோழ அரண்மனை - அகழாய்வு இடம், Gangaikonda Chozhapuram, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Maligaimedu Chola Palace excavation Site was a part of the Rajendra Chozha War Trophy Trail, a Heritage walk organised by the Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru Aayvu Sangam -  கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் on 28^th and 29^th September 2024.

HISTORY

About a mile to the south-west are a number of mounds. These are said to mark the site of the palace of the Chola King who built the temple and who also had his residence here. Traces of a surrounding moat are at places visible. The mounds extend over several acres, and are too extensive for those of a palace only; they must also have included a town. The greatest of the mounds probably hides the ruins of the palace. It covers over an acre of ground, but traces of SOLAPURAM. The building buried under it extend beyond this area. It is about 10 feet in height. The foundations of the walls are about 6 feet below the present surface of the surrounding ground. The walls are 4 feet in thickness and built of large bricks similar to those found in Buddhist types.

As per the display board erected in the excavation site, The Palaces are called Gangaikonda Chozha Maligai, Mudikonda Chozhan Maligai, and Chozha Keralan maligai. Rajendra-I, Raadhi Raja-I, Rajendra –II, Virarajendra and Kulothunga issued edicts / orders from this Palace. The 1031, 1047, 1053, 1059, 1066, 1068,1070 and 1119 CE inscriptions records this Palace. Latter Pandyas destroyed this palace.

The Tamil Nadu Archaeological department did excavations in 1980, 1984, 1991, 1996, 2009, 2021, and 2022. Important artefacts recovered during the excavation are Brick Structure, Iron nails, Ivory Objects, Coloured Bangles, Chinese Ceramics, Gold Foil, Gold Bracelet, and Copper Coins. As per the archaeological department, this site is 1000 years old. 

Ref: 

1. Display board.

2. Thenninthiya Koil Sasanangal Part-II - 

    தென்னிந்திய கோயில் சாசனங்கள் பகுதி-II. 

STATUS

The Maligaimedu excavation site comprises the excavated site and a Site Museum. No Royal articles/artefacts related to Chozha, taken from the excavation are kept in the museum.

The excavation site has the remains of Brick structures and square granite blocks with round holes. The walls are built with bricks of bigger sizes. Not similar to the 1000 and odd years old bricks, used in old Chozha temples/structures.

HOW TO REACH

The Maligaimedu excavation site is about 3.2 KM from Gangaikonda Chozhapuram Temple, 38 KM from Kumbakonam, 43 KM from Chidambaram, and 74 KM from Thanjavur.

Nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam.

LOCATION OF THE EXCAVATION SITE: CLICK HERE

SITE MUSEUM 

In the Museum Hindu deity images are mostly damaged, Saptamatrikas, Rishabas, and some inscription stones are kept on display, which are brought from elsewhere. 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---