Tamil Nadu Tourism -PADAMANABAPURAM PALACE-Nagercoil-Kanyakumari-Tamilnadu-India
It was the home of the Rajas of the Travancore (1550 to 1750 CE) in southern Kerala. This was the center of power in Kerala from about 1600 to 1790, before it was moved to Thiruvananthapuram (also known as Trivandrum). The palace was constructed around 1601 AD by Iravipillai Iravivarma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Travancore between 1592 AD and 1609 AD. It is surrounded by a 4 km-long stone fort built at the same time. The area inside the fort walls was restricted to the Royals and their minions until Indian independence in 1947.
A magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, Padmanabhapuram Palace lies at the land's end of mainland India – Kanyakumari but, it comes under the Government of Kerala's administration.. An enticing ediffice to any lover of art and architecture this old palace of the Rajas of the erstwhile Travancore (1550 to 1750 AD) is a fine specimen of Kerala's indigenous style of architecture.
It was the home of the Rajas of the Travancore (1550 to 1750 CE) in southern Kerala. This was the center of power in Kerala from about 1600 to 1790, before it was moved to Thiruvananthapuram (also known as Trivandrum). The palace was constructed around 1601 AD by Iravipillai Iravivarma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Travancore between 1592 AD and 1609 AD. It is surrounded by a 4 km-long stone fort built at the same time. The area inside the fort walls was restricted to the Royals and their minions until Indian independence in 1947.The modern history of Travancore is said to start with Marthanda Varma who, during his reign from 1729 to 1758, transformed and grew the old kingdom of Venad into Travancore during his tenure. Marthanda Varma is acknowledged as the “Maker of Modern Travancore” and under his reign Travancore emerged as an independent realm of political, cultural and social activities. He conquered other Kerala rulers up to Cochin and was also able to crush foreign powers during his rule. He succeeded in defeating the Dutch East India Company during the Travancore-Dutch war, in which the most decisive engagement was the battle of Colachel where he routed the Dutch. The construction of the Perumal palace at the centre of the complex was completed in 1744 A.D. On the day of its completion, Maharaja Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma, dedicated this palace to Lord Padmanabha and named the palace Sri Padmanabha Perumal Palace. From then on the fort and the surroundings earlier known as Kalkulam came to be known as Padmanabhapuram. Padmanabhapuram palace cover an area of around 7 acres.
The complex consists of individual structures linked by a maze of corridors, colonnades, verandahs, courts and constructed of teakwood and granite and stands within the massive stone walls of 30 ft which kept Tipu Sultan at bay in the 18th century. Exquisite wall paintings, fascinating traditional Kerala architecture, floors finished to a high polish with a special compound of crushed shells, coconuts, egg-white and juices of local plants; sunny courtyards with carvings and sculptures are some of the outstanding features of this sprawling palace housed within fortified walls. Durbar Hall of the palace has a with a shiny black floor specially made from a combination of egg white, jaggery lime, burnt coconut, charcoal and river sand, granite tubs to cool curd and buttermilk, secret underground passages, the King's bedroom with a four poster medicinal bed, mural paintings, pictures of Lord Krishna, hanging brass lanterns lit continuously since the 18th century, open air swimming bath, granite dance hall, large earthen urns, room for scribes and accountants, carved figures on columns holding oil lamps, fish carvings on the ceilings, enormous teak beams, Belgian mirrors and an outer cyclopean stone wall fitted together without mortar.
Important buildings in the palace include:
Mantrasala– King’s Council Chamber
Thai Kottaram– Mother Palace (also known as Darbha Kulangara Kottaram)
Nataksala– the Hall of Performance, or of Performing Arts
Upparika malika– the King’s Quarters — a four-story building at the center of the palace complex containing the King’s Treasury, sleeping quarters, resting and study rooms, and the top floor serving as the worship chamber of the royal household. Martanda Verma built the King’s Quarters in 1744 A.D.
Thekee Kottaram– the Southern Palace
A ceremonial feasting hall, now bare, which can accommodate around 1000 guests.
The palace has its main entrance from the west. The 'padipura' or the main gate reached after crossing a large courtyard, displays an ornamented gabled roof. The 'Pumukham', inside the second court, has a profusely carved rosewood and mahogany ceiling with 90 different inverted flowers, a polished granite bed in one corner and an ornate Chinese throne. There is an audience hall on the upper level of the two storied building with circular wooden columns and angled timber screens to let in light and air. Each room in the palace has its own characteristic style.
A guided tour through the maze of 108 rooms leaves one breathless at the artistic expression and sheer opulence of these magnificent rooms. Painted mahogany musical ceremonial bows adorn a wall, a huge brass oil lamp hangs from an ornate teak, wooden ceilings profusely carved etc are a feast to the eyes. He palace has antique interiors replete with intricate rosewood carvings and sculpture adorned with 17th and 18th century frescos. There are a number of beautiful sights to behold within the palace-windows, with colored mica, a musical bow in Mahogany, royal chairs adorned with Chinese carvings and much more. The Queen`s Palace or Thaikkottaram is a resplendent affair with painted ceilings, rose wood and teak carved panels with over 90 different floral designs. The Padmanabhapuram Palace complex consists of several structures such as Mantrasala or the King's Council Chamber, Thai Kottaram, Nataksala, Thekke Kottaram, Clock Tower, Hanging Lamp, Wood Carvings and so on.
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