Arakkal Palace

The Arrakkal Museum is a museum dedicated to the Arakkal family, the only Muslim royal family in Kerala, south India. The museum is actually a section of the Arakkalkettu (Arakkal Palace). The durbar hall section of the palace has been converted into a museum by the Government of Kerala.

Arakkal family is the royal family which ruled Kannur for several centuaries. They had family relationship with Kolathiris, the rulers of the neighbouring Chirakkal kingdom. Arakkal family had trade relationship with Arabs and later with Europeans. The islands of Lakshadweep and Maldives were ruled by Arakkal family. The king of Arakkal kingdom was known as Arakkal Raja and the Queen was known as Arakkal Beevi.

Although renovated by the government, the Arakkalkettu is still owned by the Arakkal Family Trust and does not fall under the control of the country's archaeology department, the Archaeological Survey of India. The government had taken a keen interest in preserving the heritage of the Arakkal Family, which had played a prominent role in the history of Malabar. A nominal entry fee is charged by the Arakkal Family Trust from visitors to the museum.

Location: only 3 km from kannur. And 120 km from Kozhikode.

Bolghatty Palace

Bolghatty palace

Interior-Suit Room

Built by the Dutch in India, Gorgeous Bolghatty Palace is located in the Bolghatty islands, Cochin in Kerala. Appeal of the castle due to the fact that this is one of the oldest buildings of the existing Dutch East Indies, during the time before the British. Cochin has long been an important commercial centers in India to attract traders and sailors from far and near. In 1744, Dutch traders built this palace originally wool.

Later, the house was enlarged and lush gardens have been added all around. In those days, Bolgatty challenge Palace the residence of the Dutch government. Later, in 1909, the building was leased to Great Britain, who moved to Britain to suspend the governors of central banks. In 1947, when India gained independence, the palace became the property Bolghatty Cochin State, and later amended by the Heritage Resort Hotel. Also known as Bolgatty Palace Hotel is now the seat of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC).

Set amid a beautiful garden, the palace has been slowly transformed into a heritage hotel, he said. With spectacular backwaters of Cochin in the background, the landscape around the Palace is simply breathtaking. Boghatty Hotel Palace is a two storey building, tastefully decorated, with bedrooms and a spacious living room, showing historical portraits.

Interior-Living Area

The hotel pronounce executive suites, deluxe rooms and cottages and honeymoon in the lake along the edge of the lake for your stay. Other services for guests consists of a mini-golf, swimming pool, Ayurvedic center and daily Kathakali performances. Being an important city in southern India, Kochi (Cochin) is a hub for tourists. When you land here you can take a ferry to Boghatty Palace is located on the island Boghatty. Speed ​​ferry is frequent, and is just five minutes drive through the beautiful creek.

Location: Only 30km from Cochin  International Airport. Only 1km from each bus and railway station.

Details: 24 hr Coffee Shop, Laundry, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Beauty Parlour, Halls, Bar Pub, Doctor on Call etc. are some of the services provided by the palace.

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.

Krishnapuram Palace

Krishnapuram Palace

The Krishnapuram Palace, a protected monument of the Dept of Archaeology, is situated near the Krishnaswamy Temple at Krishnapuram on the left side of the National Highway between Ochira and Kayamkulam in the District of Alapuzha.

Chariot

The Palace was built during the period of Anizham Thirunal Martanda Varma (1729-1758 AD, 904-933 ME) after the annexation of Kayamkulam to the erstwhile State of Travancore. This palace is the best example for the Kerala style architectural buildings, especially the residence of local Chief-tains and royal palaces of Travancore.

Gajendra Moksham

The Palace is noted for its characteristic style of Kerala Architecture such as the gabled roofs, narrow corridors, dorma windows, pent roofs and so on. It also houses one of the largest single panel Mural paintings so far discovered in Kerala known as 'Gajendra Moksha', which measures 53 sq.ft in area. 

This palace is specially noted for its peculiar architectural style, which is a typical 'Pathinarukettu'. An Archaeological museum is set up in the Palace in which stone and wood sculptures, bronzes, copies of Mural paintings, coins, megalithic remains, stone inscription and such historically and archaeologically important objects are preserved and protected.

 

Nanangadi

Location: It is situated in Krishnapuram near Kayamkulam. Only 2km from kayamkulam bus stand and railway station.

Details: Open on all days except on Mondays and other national holidays from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. Phone: 0479 441133

Kuthira Malika

           Kuthira Malika is a palace in Thiruvananthapuram built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. It is located on the southeastern side of the Padmanabhaswamy temple. The Palace was constructed in 1840, and is named Kuthira Malika or the Mansion of Horses, because there are one hundred and eight horses that are carved in the wooden wall brackets, which supports the southern roof. 

The leaning roofs, suspended eaves, pillared verandahs and closed courtyards. The wooden ceilings are adorned with complex carvings and each room has a distinctive pattern. Kuthira Malika is also referred to Putthen Malika, the New Mansion that forms a part of the royal buildings near the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. 

A part of the Putthen Malika has been converted to a Palace Museum that consists of some of the assets, which are owned by the Travancore Royal Family. The various items include, Kathakali mannequins, crystal chandeliers, paintings, armaments, musical instruments, Belgium mirrors and other artifacts. The courtyard of the Kuthira Malika hosts the Swati Thirunal Music Festival, which is held in January every year.

Location: Near Kizhakke Kotta

Kanakakkunnu Palace

                                                                          Kanakakunnu Palace is located in Trivandrum close to the Napier Museum. It was primarily a summer palace of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore. Built by Sree Moolam Thirunnal the Palace was later renovated by Sree Swathi Thirunal by the introduction of tennis courts and other features.

The palace boasts of beautiful chandeleires and also a large collection of royal furniture and it was used more as a guest house to entertain the visiting dignitaries than anything else. hte palce with its stunning architecture is a remaining legacy of the colonial era.

Protected by the tourism department the palace plays host to a lot of cultural meets and programs. The palace ground is an excellent for joggers and family to relax in the evenings. The Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has listed this place as a heritage monument.

The Nisagandhi open-air auditorium, is located within the palace compounds and is a sought after venue for staging various cultural programs and other entertainment extravaganzas. The Nishagandhi open air auditorium palys host to a weeklong festival of Indian Classical dances including Barathanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohinayattam etc. Various artists participate in this week long cultural extravaganza. The Sooryakanthi auditorium is a very popular venue which stages exhibitions, trade fairs and cultural programs. The palace ground also hosts a week long food festival which sees the participation of hotels from all over Trivandrum.