Padmanabhapuram Palace

Padmanabhapuram Palace complex is located in at Padmanabhapuram Fort, close to the town of Thuckalay in Kanyakumari, Tamilnadu. It is about 20 km from Nagercoil. The palace complex is inside an old granite fortress around four kilometers long. The palace is located at the foot of the Veli Hills, which form a part of the Western Ghats. The river Valli flows nearby. The palace is administered by the Government of Kerala archeology department.
The palace was constructed around 1601 A.D by Iravipillai Iravivarma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Travancore between 1592 A.D. and 1609 A.D. In the late 18th century, the capital of Travancore was shifted from here to Thiruvananthapuram, and the place lost its former glory. However, the palace complex continue to be the best examples of traditional Kerala architecture, and some portions of the sprawling complex are also the hall mark of traditional Kerala style building art.

The traditional home of the Travancore royal family of Kerala.

Kannimoola-TheSouthwest corner of a traditional building or temple is very special. It is known as Kannimoola and this is the place, which provides protection to this palace.

The palace is known for it antiques, including the armoury of the royal family.

The woodwork in this palace is intricate. This Palace is maintained by the Govt.of Kerala Tourism Board.

King's bed made of 18 ayurvedic herbs and wood

The Padamnabhapuram Palace complex has several other interesting features:
* The Palace though surrounded entirely by the State of Tamil Nadu is still part of Kerala and the land and Palace belongs to the Government of Kerala.
* The clock tower in the palace complex has a 300 year old clock, which still keeps time.
* A big hall now bare, which can accommodate around 1000 guests, and where ceremonial feasts were held, on auspicious occasions.
* A secret passage, now blocked, through which the king, his immediate family members, and their entourage could escape to another palace, located several kilometers away in the event of any emergency. Name of this palace is Charottu kottaram.
* A flight of steps leads to a bathing pond, which has lost its freshness due to neglect and years of disuse.
* The Palace complex also has a section of curios and several interesting objects:
o An entire room filled with old Chinese jars, all gifts by Chinese merchants.
o A variety of weapons (which were actually used in warfare), including swords and daggers.
o Brass lamps, wood and stone sculpture, a variety of furniture and large mirrors made of polished metal.
o A gallery of paintings depicting incidents from the history of Travancore.
o A wooden cot made of up to 64 wooden pieces of a variety of medicinal tree trunks
o Polished stone cot, meant for cool effect
o Toilet and well