.jpg) |
| .newindianexpress.com |
.jpg) |
| Thanjavur clock tower.tamil.abplive.com |
.jpg) |
| Thanjavur clock tower.tamil.abplive.com |
 |
| Thanjavur clock tower. credit: J.Ramakrishna Anand |
Above image: The tall structure is octogonal upto the clock dials facing the cardinal direction. The wooden roofed balconies are on the square faces...............
Located in the prime area of Thanjavur city (entrance to the complex is on the Gandhiji Road) just across the old bus stand and the colonial Union Club building, after restoration and renovation at a cost of about Rs.2.3 crore under the Smart City Program, the resplendent Ranee's clock tower and the newly repaired Rajappa park (Rajappa Poonka) were some of the projects dedicated to public by CM of TN Thiru. M. Stalin at a gala function held on December 30, 2022.
To make the old park more spacious for the users, shop buildings etc on the eastern and northern side of the park facing the roads near Anna's statue were demolished and the entire complex was barricaded with a compound wall and iron rods to prevent trespassing.
With no shops or building around, one can view the colonial clock tower from Gandhiji road as well as from the Hospital road. This magnificent monument, a legacy of the Bhonsle Royal family, is the tallest free standing colonial clock tower in the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Silver Jubilee colonial clock tower also called Dodda Gadiara , built in 1927 adjacent to Chamaraja Circle and the Town Hall, Mysore is just 75 feet tall. Its design is that of Indo- Saracenic style.
The 135-meter high freestanding clock tower on the sprawling 345-acre Global Education Center of the Infosys (estimated cost $8.3 million), Mysore city is said to be the tallest one in the world, taller than other clock towers like London’s Big Ben and the 87-meter high Hoover Tower in California and McGraw Tower (53 meters) in Cornell, USA. But the infosys clock tower is not a colonial one.
For several months work on the sitting benches in the Rajappa's park, a small amusement section in the park for the kid and special lighting project was going on. A few days ago when I went past the old Thanjavur bus stand and saw many posters pasted on the walls at the facade of the newly renovated buildings, my heart had sunk to the lowest level. They spoil the look of the newly built bus terminals. It is quite sad nobody is concerned about the aesthetics of public buildings and how to keep them tidy. I am afraid the same thing may happen to the newly restored Rajappa park and the clock tower if proper precautions are not taken.
It is the responsibility of the citizens of Thanjavur to keep the city clean and tidy. Severe action has to be taken by the TMC against those who are littering in public places and abusing public walls with graffiti and unwanted posters. If there is no deterrence, this menace will continue unabated.
Further, the city corporation may erect billboards or some kind of provisions at vantage points and allow the posters, etc to be pasted on them for a monthly fee. Once the city is spruced up when the Smart City Mission is over, we may expect lots of tourists from other places including from overseas. A clean and neat city will not cause any health issues and will bring in more tourists from far and wide. It means it will be a boon for the local economy and traders. Keeping the city dirty and filthy, paying no attention to govt. rules, etc will get us nowhere and it will not impress the foreign tourists.
 |
| Thanjavur clock tower. credit: J.Ramakrishna Anand |
Above image: The red-brick color gives the clock tower a striking appearance. Note the series of stone corbels supporting the overlying octogonal part. The tall structure is octogonal upto the clock dials facing the cardinal directions. There is a spiral stairway to reach the upper levels and, I believe, the public is not allowed to use it. The entrance to the stairway is on the east side. In the recent past, a part of the lower portion was being used by the municipal plumbing department...............
Built in 1883 during the reign of Raja Serfoji II of the Maratha dynasty of Tanjore (Thanjavur) the elegant tower has a clock fitted on it with marble framework. According to the informative book written by S. M. Somansudaram "The Great temple at Tanjore," 1935 (published by the Thanjavur palace Devasthanam), a sum of Rs.19,000.00 was spent on the construction of the clock tower and a major part of the expenses ie. not less than Rs. 12,000 was borne by the Maratha Ranee. Her contribution being a big one, it was rightly named Ranee's Clock tower.
The land covering 1900 sq ft on which the clock tower is built and the park covering 36600 sq.ft are part of the land donated by the Maratha Queen Kamatchi Bai to the RMH - Raja Merasudar Hospital (that includes the eye hospital as well). Made of well-cut and burnt brick, lime mortar using the old traditional technique, the design followed here is that of Indo-European often referred to as Indo-Saracenic - the term later popularized by the famous British architect Robert Chisholm (Madras University Senate House, Victoria Town Hall and Amir Mahal, Chennai are part of his work). The free standing tower is partly Octogonal and at top Square in shape capped by a dome - the cupola that closely resembles the dome on the Thanjavur Sri Brihadeeswara temple built by the Chola ruler Rajaraja.
https://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/things-to-know-about-infosys-clock-tower-in-mysore-india/
https://www.navrangindia.in/2017/02/heritage-structure-ranis-clock-tower.html
.jpg&description=Ranee's Clock Tower, Thanjavur, TN - now dazzling with a better look ){kind=link}