The Padmanabhapuram palace – a place reflecting the echoes of past royalty, striking a glorious enigma of the regal times gone by, a structure of awe-inspiring beauty. 64 kilometres from the lively city of Thiruvananthapuram does it stand tall and proud, sporting the indigenous and unique architecture of the Kerala of times gone by, located at Thuckalay on the way to Kanyakumari. It is a memento of the Travancore kingdom, which is now Kerala, an era gone by and buried amidst the folds of time.
The Padmanabhapuram palace has been maintained well and in all its glory to this date, decorated by the colourful murals from the 17th and 18th centuries, floral carvings embedded into its walls and cool, black granite floors, allowing one to step into a most majestic glimpse from a history so rich. Awestruck are those who bear witness to its well sculpted relics – the elegant rose carvings on the walls, the mahogany musical bow, the grand windows made from coloured mica, the royal chairs crafted by artisans from the Far East and the Queen Mother’s very own palace, the ‘Thai Kottaram’, with its fine painted ceilings. It is clear from all its grandeur and splendour that the palace was made for the well respected thrones of the just royals from the past. In fact, one could be led to believe that it was the abode of the Gods.
History
A mighty kingdom, the Venad kingdom, later to be recognised as the princely state of Travancore, established its capital at Padmanabhapuram and along with it, the exquisite palace. Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal was the one to first build the palace. The location was chosen quite carefully and strategically, the terrain being favourable and protective. It has been redesigned countless times by the rulers, according to trends of the time. It eventually led to the large complex of the palace grounds and its rich heritage, little pieces of various eras. Marthanda Varma renovated or built the palace complex using Vastu Shastra principles. After that he dedicated the palace to Sree Padmanabha Swamy, the royal family's deity. It was lost to the Britishers in 1809, but was converted into a museum complex in 1934, thanks to the Travancore royals. When the states of India were reorganised on the basis of linguistics and Kanyakumari became a part of Tamil Nadu, timely intervention allowed this important place rich in history and a significant mark of Kerala to be under the jurisdiction of the Kerala Government. Today, it is a favourite haunt of tourists from all over the world, relishing the opportunity to revel in its magnificence.
There are many other splendid sights inside the Palace. As you enter through the Mukhya Vaathil, the main entrance, you can immediately feel the beauty of traditional Kerala architecture. Situated in the northern wing of the poomukhamalika (entrance hall) stands the Mani Meda (clock tower), sporting a clock with Roman numerals and made especially to last unaffected.
The core of the palace called the Thai Kottaram and is undoubtedly the oldest structure here. Its inner section opens to a traditional nalukettu, a typical feature in Kerala architecture, an open courtyard with rooms spread out on all four sides. Uppirikka Malika, a grand multi storied structure that symbolises wealth, royal power and the realisation of God is perhaps the most revered structure in the complex. The ancient mural paintings found here are believed to be invaluable and sacred. Another highlight found here is the Sapramancha Kattil, a grand poster bed supposedly made from a combination of 64 timber samples with medicinal properties.
The Navarathri Mandappam is where one can truly appreciate the sheer beauty of Dravidian architecture in stone. The performance hall is defined by ornately carved monolith pillars in the famous Vijayanagara fashion. Plamuttu Kottaram, Veppinmuttu Kottaram, Valiya Ootupura, Homapura, Ayudhapura, Thekketheruvv Malika, Panthadikalam Malika, Indra Vilasam and the Thekkae Kottaram are the other important structures that complete the palace complex.
This is merely a small glimpse into the extensive beauty and history of the Padmanabhapuram Palace, which houses so many places of the greatest importance and the most interesting of stories to support them. One can only truly enjoy the experience by seeing the sights with their own eyes, and perhaps, you will step into the shoes of the countless men that once proudly walked the grounds in the times past, and see through their eyes the grand palace that stood tall over the prosperous kingdom of Travancore…
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Padmanabhapuram Palace