Saraswathi Mahal Library or Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library (TMSSML) is located in Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the oldest libraries in Asia,[citation needed] and has on display a rare collection of Palm leaf manuscripts and paper written in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, and a few other languages indigenous to India. The collection comprises well over 49,000 volumes, though only a tiny fraction of these are on display. The library has a complete catalogue of holdings, which is being made available online. Some rare holdings can be viewed on site by prior arrangement. The Saraswathi Mahal library started as a Royal Library for the private pleasure of the then Kings of Thanjavur (see, Nayaks of Tanjore) who ruled 1535 - 1675 AD. The Maratharulers who captured Thanjavur in 1675 patronised local culture and further developed the Royal Palace Library until 1855. Most notable among the Maratha Kings was Serfoji II(1798–1832), who was an eminent scholar in many branches of learning and the arts. In his early age Serfoji studied under the influence of the German Reverent Schwartz, and learned many languages including English, French, Italian and Latin. He enthusiastically took special interest in the enrichment of the Library, employing many Pandits to collect, buy and copy a vast number of works from all renowned Centres of Sanskrit learning in Northern India and other far-flung areas.
The Serfoji Sarasvati Mahal Library, Thanjavur
E Main St, Rajakrisnapuram