The Palace at Padmanapuram

A wonder in wood.

- Brinda Ganesan

It is a well-known fact that Kerala is celebrated for its natural scenery and hence the epithet “God's own Country”. The state also boasts of engravings in wood which qualify for a place in the top spot. The testimony of such brilliance in architecture lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, some 50 km from the city.

The place is Padmanabhapuram which was once the capital of erstwhile Travancore state and citadel of the royal house. This tiny but historic hamlet is sanctified by two temples and glorified by an excellent palace. The palace is in the centre of the village set amidst picturesque surroundings with Veli hills in the backdrop. Even to this day the mansion stands in all its splendour and majesty as the relic of a glorious past.

Nowhere else can you feel the fingers of time rustling through the pages of history than at Padmanabhapuram palace, a fine specimen of traditional architecture of Malabar replete with teak,granite and stone all combining into a symphony of elegance and simplicity. A circular fort, 3 km in circumference runs around the palace. Padmanabapuram, earlier known as Kalkulam, was the seat of the rulers of Travancore from the 16th to the late 18th centuries. The palace is said to have been constructed during the period of Iravi Varma Kulasekara Perumal in 1601. Initially a small edifice, the add-ons were provided by the successive rulers and the present status was attained at the end of the 18th century.