The New Palace in Pudukkottai, a heritage structure, houses the District Collector’s Office. Built during the reign of Rajagopala Thondaiman, the last of the rulers of the Princely state as his royal palace in 1930, the Indo-Sarcenic structure is an architectural wonder of the region.

The palace, adorned with amazing stone walls, Moorish cupolas, and surrounded by a large lawn and garden, also boasts of wood lands in 100 acres. “Built by Nilakanta Sastriar (father of Kalakshetra founder Rukmini Devi Arundale), who served as the State Engineer of the former princely state, the palace had been losing its glory due to poor maintenance,” allege historians.

“The palace could be put to better use as it is a heritage structure. It can be converted in to a museum. Utilizing a heritage structure to house a public office might pave way for the heritage structure going to ruins,” said S. Raja Mohammed, historian.

“The last king, Rajagopala Thondaiman, had gifted the palace to the Government, when Tiruchi district was bifurcated. Pudukkottai district was created in 1974. Named after the last prince, the palace has already suffered some damages, and one could see the royal doors and panels mutilated in many places in the palace complex,” he added.

Many administrators including, Ashok Kumar Rastogi, a former District Collector of Pudukkottai, wondered at the opulence and workmanship of the palace and declared it as among the best palaces he had ever seen in India.

“The estate surrounding the palace could be put to better use, if converted in to mini zoo,” says Bhoominathan, a resident of the town. “The government has introduced chital (spotted deer) in the park. Monkeys, peacocks and several other birds have made it their natural home, even though there is no effort to convert it into a zoo,” he adds.