Food and Shelter for the Itinerant Pilgrims: Maratha Chattrams in Southernmost India

A chattram, also called choultry, primarily refers to a wayside inn or resthouse for travelers, mostly pilgrims. They may halt here meal few hours even days weeks. Such chattrams were built almost throughout India by many kings and queens, ministers merchants. Although there are copious references such in ancient medieval literature inscriptions, actual specimens of limited number. Many them appear have been destroyed during wars the course later developments constructions. In Tamil Nadu, southern India, Tanjavur Maratha dynasty (1676-1855) that ruled this region with as capital, erected scores chattrams. Some these survived day. massive elegant buildings displaying innovative architectural features. bear beautiful sculptures wall paintings akin those temples region. Mainly based on archival field researches, present paper analyzes historical, artistic importance simultaneously, probes role institutions socio-economic life period. The concludes brief account present-day condition ways which they could be put adaptive reuse according exigencies contemporary times.