The great Padmanabhapuram Palace, India.
A magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, this historical fort is located about 50 km from Trivandrum in South India. It extends over an area of about 7 acres at the foot of the Veli Hills of the Western Ghats. Emperor Ravivarma Kulasekharaperumal of the erstwhile Travancore in 1602 AD who constructed this palace dedicated it to Lord Padmanabha and surrendered his sword to the God and functioned as His servant and ruled the State on behalf of Lord Padmanabha. He made the city the capital Travancore.
Individual structures inside this fort are linked by corridors. The King’s Council of Chamber or the Mantrasala is a very cool place with colored mica and dark atmosphere inside. Lattice work is seen here. The Mother’s Palace or the Thai Kottaram has an inner court and a small room called the Chamber of Solitude or the ekantha mandapam with excellent wood carvings.
A relatively new construction, the Hall of Performance or the Natakasala was added by the emperor Swathi Thirunal himself a great musician of fame. It has solid granite pillars and gleaming black floor. A wooden enclosure with peep holes served as a viewing platform for the royal household to sit and watch the performance below so as to avoid public gaze. A multi-purpose four-storied building served a variety of purpoes. The top floor or the upparikka maliga had scenes from the ancient literature as well as scenes from social life of that age.
The king’s bedroom has a bedstead made from 64 different herbal and medicinal woods (see photo, right), a gift from the Dutch merchants. Most of the rooms here stored swords and daggers, the chief weapons of those days.
A magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, this historical fort is located about 50 km from Trivandrum in South India. It extends over an area of about 7 acres at the foot of the Veli Hills of the Western Ghats. Emperor Ravivarma Kulasekharaperumal of the erstwhile Travancore in 1602 AD who constructed this palace dedicated it to Lord Padmanabha and surrendered his sword to the God and functioned as His servant and ruled the State on behalf of Lord Padmanabha. He made the city the capital Travancore.
Individual structures inside this fort are linked by corridors. The King’s Council of Chamber or the Mantrasala is a very cool place with colored mica and dark atmosphere inside. Lattice work is seen here. The Mother’s Palace or the Thai Kottaram has an inner court and a small room called the Chamber of Solitude or the ekantha mandapam with excellent wood carvings.
A relatively new construction, the Hall of Performance or the Natakasala was added by the emperor Swathi Thirunal himself a great musician of fame. It has solid granite pillars and gleaming black floor. A wooden enclosure with peep holes served as a viewing platform for the royal household to sit and watch the performance below so as to avoid public gaze. A multi-purpose four-storied building served a variety of purpoes. The top floor or the upparikka maliga had scenes from the ancient literature as well as scenes from social life of that age.
The king’s bedroom has a bedstead made from 64 different herbal and medicinal woods (see photo, right), a gift from the Dutch merchants. Most of the rooms here stored swords and daggers, the chief weapons of those days.
There is a 300-year-old clock, which still keeps time. A guided tour of the palace leaves lasting impressions. A must for tourists.
Source: Google
Images: Fort: GoogleImages: Medicinal cot: Wikipedia
4 comments on "The great Padmanabhapuram Palace, India"
it's good to educate modern children's on history detail. good jobs
Very good blog G,
I must say its a must visit for all those who love history and traveling.
Thanks for sharing all the beautiful places which we rarely hear about. You a doing a great job of promoting these not so famous places in India to boost tourism to these places.
Thanks for sharing all the beautiful places which we rarely hear about. You a doing a great job of promoting these not so famous places in India to boost tourism to these places.
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