Padmanabhapuram Palace
An astonishing Travancore era Palace crammed with traditional Kerala style architecture
Important Info
- Timing : 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Entry Fee Adult : Rs.10
- Entry Fee Children : Rs. 2
- Camera : Rs.25
- Videography : Rs.1200
Padmanabhapuram Palace is located in Padmanabhapuram near Thuckalay, a place in Tamil Nadu. The palace is constructed near the foot of the Veli Hills, a part of the Western Ghats. The palace is also known as Kalkulam Palace. Kalkulam is a taluk in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.
After passing through a vast courtyard, the main entrance of the palace can be reached from the west side. The interior of the palace is absolutely astounding. Chinese carvings on royal chairs, 17th and 18th century murals, detailed rosewood and teak wood carvings, carved columns holding oil lamps, huge earthen urns, and jackfruit tree columns, colored mica on the windows, Belgian mirrors, and intricate paintings on the ceilings will leave you wonderstruck.
Inside the palace there are Dance halls, museums, council chamber, dining halls, Queen Mother Palace, inner courtyards to the King’s room, presents a creative interior with admirable art works.The Council chamber known as Manthrasala, is the most beautiful part of the palace is with colored mica windows and floors with unique finishing. Its glistening floor has been plastered with a special combination of egg white, jaggery, coconut, charcoal, lime, river sand, etc.
There is an archaeological museum in the courtyard of the Southern Palace which displays a wide array of artifacts, furniture, coins, ancient armaments, granite and wooden sculptures, copper plates with inscriptions, etc.
Even though the palace is in the State of Tamil Nadu, it is still administered by the Government of Kerala. This Palace and its whole land is maintained by the Archaeology Department of Government of Kerala. The palace complex is one of the best examples of traditional Kerala style architecture, and some portions of the sprawling complex are the hallmark.
Padmanabhapuram Palace is located at a distance of 13 km from Nagercoil in Tamilnadu and 53 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central in Kerala.
Travel Tips
- It is closed on Monday and national holidays.
- Tickets won't be available between 1 pm to 2 pm.
- Visitors are required to leave their footwear outside to enter the palace.
- Very limited parking place.
Trending In Padmanabhapuram Palace
Detailed Information
The palace was constructed around 1601 by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Venad between 1592 and 1609.
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma the founder of modern Travancore, who ruled Travancore from 1729 to 1758, rebuilt the palace in around 1750. King Marthaanda Varma was an extreme devotee of Sree Padmanabha,his family deity, a form of Lord Vishnu. He dedicated the kingdom to Sree Padmanabha and ruled the kingdom as Padmanabha dasa or servant of Lord Padmanabha. Hence city was named Padmanabhapuram or City of Lord Padmanabha. The palace lost its former glory after the capital of Travancore was shifted from here to Thiruvananthapuram. It happened in the late 18th century, precisely in 1795.
The different sections of the palace complex is filled with lots of curios and interesting objects. A variety of weapons (which were actually used in warfare), including swords and daggers, Brass lamps, wood and stone sculpture, a variety of furniture and large mirrors made of polished metal.An entire room filled with old Chinese jars, all gifts by Chinese merchants. A gallery of paintings depicting incidents from the history of Travancore. A wooden cot made of up to 64 wooden pieces of a variety of medicinal tree trunks. A polished stone cot meant for cool effect,Toilet and well.
There is a Clock Tower in the palace complex which has a 300-year-old clock, that still keeps time.
Queen’s Mother Palace, known as Thai Kottaram, built in 1550 is the oldest part of the palace. This prominent part of the Padmanabhapuram Palace is built in the Kerala style of architecture, More than 90 varied kinds of floral motif are present in the painted and carved ceilings of Thai Kottaram. It also has an inner courtyard, called 'Nalukettu' along with a small chamber known as Ekantha Mandapam.
The audience hall of the palace which is the newest addition to the palace was built during the year of 1829 to 1846.The dining hall of the palace has the capacity to accommodate around 1000 people. There is also secret passage in the palace that was built to take royals,in case of an assault, to a palace located 2 km away.
Every part of the palace,varying from Dance halls, museums, council chamber, dining halls, Queen Mother Palace, inner courtyards to the King’s room, presents a creative interior with admirable art works.This wooden palace, built in 16th century will surely engross every visitor with its exceptional beauty.
At Brahmapuram, Tourists can see the famous Udayagiri fort. This place is only 4 km away from Padmanabhapuram Palace. The fort was originally built in the 17th century, it was reconstructed by Maharaja Marthanda Varma in the 18th century. The tombs of the Dutch Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy can be seen inside a partly ruined chapel in the fort.
A must visit spot near Padmanabhapuram Palace is the Thirparappu waterfalls.
