Krishnapuram Palace

About Krishnapuram Palace

Far From City: 34 kms from city center
Cost: About Krishnapuram Palace Weather: Time Required:1-2 hours Open Time:9:30 AM - 4:30 PM (closed on Monday) Cost:Adults: INR 10,Kids: INR 5,Still camera: INR 25,Video camera: INR 250

History of Krishanapuram Palace The Krishnapuram Palace was built by King Marthanda Varma of Travancore after he had successfully defeated and annexed Odanad in the Odanad?Travancore War of 1746. King Marthanda Varma initially built only a small palace of a single story. This opulent palace was locally known as Ettukettu and was built in the traditional style with an adjacent pond, temple and urappura, under the management of Prime Minister Ramayyan Dalawa. This one-storey structure was later on enlarged by the Prime Minister Ayyappan Marthanada Pillai. The present building, however, is a magnificent three-storied structure within the compound. This building was renovated in the 1950's by the Archaeological Department of Kerala, who gave the building a modern look, but at the same time conforming to the specified scientific techniques that have been prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings. As a protected monument, the Krishnapuram Palace houses the Archaeological Museum and its various offices. Architecture of Krishanapuram Palace Covering an area of about 1.5 acres, the Krishnapuram Palace is truly an unrivalled marvel of construction. The stately palace is a perfect example of Kerala style of architecture and follows the Vastushastra doctrine of 16 kettu or enclosures. Due to the presence of these enclosures, the palace also includes four quadrangular structures, which give way to four Nadumuttam or inner patios. A new life was breathed into this glorious palace in the 18th century when it was refurbished. The reconstructed palace consists of narrow corridors, low ceiling, dormer windows, gabled roof, meandering staircases, patios and projecting balcony windows. Laterite stones, rubble, teak, rosewood and Angili wood have gone into the construction of this lovely palace. The beauty of the structure is further accentuated by the Mangalore tiles on the roofs, while the straight, curved and spiral staircases further enhance the palace's aesthetic appeal. A unique feature of this striking palace lies in the carpentry skills involved. Instead of metallic fixtures, the palace consists of wooden hinges and locks for doors and windows. The Krishnapuram Palace is not just a single building but is rather an entire complex that houses many other buildings, which are a combination of traditional and Western architecture. The complex also has a huge pond, which is believed to contain an underground secret escape passage. Archaeological Museum at Krishnapuram Palace The Krishnapuram Palace complex now functions as an archaeological museum and is a treasure trove of numerous ancient paintings and inscriptions. Stone and wood sculptures, copies of Mural paintings, coins, megalithic remains, stone inscriptions and other such historically and archaeologically important objects are preserved and protected in this museum. The prominent displays in the compound that are worth mentioning are the mural of Gajendra Moksham, Kayamkulam Vaal and a 10th-century statue of the Buddha. The walls of the resplendent palace are decorated with the mural painting of Gajendra Moksham, which is the largest mural found in Kerala. The mural covers a total area of 49 square metres and depicts an elephant seeking salvation and saluting Lord Vishnu, with the other gods and goddesses looking at the elephant. It is widely believed that since Lord Vishnu was the family deity of the Travancore rulers, the painting was put up at the entry gate of the palace. This was done to ensure that the painting remains visible from the pond whenever the rulers took a bath so that they could worship the Almighty directly. The Kayamkulam Vaal is another important exhibit that is found here. This sword is dangerous than any other martial weapon since both sides of the sword are sharpened, that is, the sword is double-edged. The museum also has a copy of the Bible in Sanskrit, ceremonial utensils and beautiful miniature figures among other artefacts. Buddha Hall at Krishnapuram Palace An attractive statue of one of the four antique Buddhas of the 10th century is displayed in the Buddha Mandapam or Buddha Hall. Located in the midst of a well-manicured and tended garden, the statue is surrounded by many flowering plants. Scholars believe that this statue probably belongs to the 5th or even the 7th century, and is a pure delight to look at.

How to Reach Krishnapuram Palace About 45 km from Alleppey on the NH-47 highway, this palace-cum-museum is easily accessible by road. It is about an hour's drive (35 km) from Kollam.

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