Mattancherry Palace

                                                                              Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Palace of the Dutch in Mattancherry, Kochi, in Kerala, decorated with murals of the Hindu temple of Kerala, art, portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi.

Mattancherry Palace

        Mattancherry Palace with its medieval charm, is located in the Palace Road, Mattancherry, Kochi. It was built by the Portuguese and presented to Veera Kerala Varma (1537-1565), the Raja of Kochi in 1555 AD. The Dutch made some additions and renovations in the palace in 1663, and was then popularly called the Dutch Palace. Cracks also more improvements. Today is a gallery of portraits of Cochin Rajas and notable for some of the best mythological murals in India, which are in the best tradition of Hindu temple art. The palace was built to appease the king after looting a nearby temple.

Landing of Vasco Da Gama, the Portuguese explorers on Kapadu in 1498 was welcomed by leaders Kochi. They had the exclusive right to build factories. The Portuguese found the repeated attacks and Cochin Rajas Zamorins almost became vassals of the Portuguese. The influence of the Portuguese were expelled by the Dutch Mattancherry and took over the 1663rd Subsequently, the area was taken over by Hyder Ali and even later by the British East India Company.

Mural in Mattancherry Palace

The palace has a quadrangular structure built in the style Nalukettu, the style of the traditional architecture of Kerala, with a courtyard in the center. In the courtyard is a small temple dedicated to "Pazhayannur Bhagavati, the patron goddess of the royal family of Kochi. There are two temples on either side of the Palace, one dedicated to Lord Krishna and the other to Lord Shiva. Some elements of the architecture, such as the nature of their bows and the proportion of its rooms are indicative of European influence in the basic Naluketttu style.

Back of Mattancherry Palace

                The dining room was carved wooden decorated ceiling decorated with a series of brass cups. The palace also contains rare examples of traditional Kerala flooring that looks like polished black marble but is actually a mixture of burnt coconut, charcoal, lime, plant juices and whites eggs.

Location:  Located in the island of Cochin, west to Ernakulam.