Krishnapuram Palace

One of the incredible facts of Kerala is that it’s got some of the architecture in the country. The domestic architecture resembles temple architecture. Especially for the residential buildings of the royalty. One such is Krishnapuram Palace

More about Krishnapuram Palace

Almost every building in the state followed the ancient Science of architecture. They also followed the science of carpentry rules. This set of regulations was known as Thatchu Shashtra.  However, these buildings, palaces and monuments were as per the climatic conditions of the area. Hence they are in perfect harmony with nature

History

In this article, we will explore the history of another building in the history of Kerala. We will also go through the glorious past of a great land – Krishnapuram Palace.

Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja (king) built Krishnapuram Palace in the 18th century. He was the king of Travancore kingdom. One of the must-visit places in the Aleppey district is this. The palace is near Kayamkulam town. The idea was to make it a part of Travancore.

The palace is a perfect example of ancient Kerala architecture.  Palace has a typical Kerala colonial-style structure. The palace was built with gabled roofs, narrow corridors and dormer windows. Krishnapuram Palace is one such in the history

The building

The three-storied palace building resemblance to the Padmanabhapuram Palace at Trivandrum. However, now you can walk through the palace’s interior, as it serves as a museum.

Another noted architectural delight of the Krishnapuram Palace is the Pathinaru-kettu. There are small rooms around the Pathinaru-kettu which housed the royal family. Unfortunately, many of the units were lost except main structure. There are numerous other things to watch which can be observe and learned. They have kept all the artefacts which the royal family used. Double-edged sword known as the Kayamkulam Vaal (sword)is one of the noted relics of the temple.

Image by Noblevmy via Wikimedia

Buddha Mandapam at Krishnapuram Palace

A massive statue of Lord Buddha at Krishnapuram Palace in the Buddha Mandapam hall of Palace. The statue, along with four others, was recovered from a pond in the fields of Aleppey. You can also see a Bible among the exhibits, written in Sanskrit. Lamps belonging to the royal family, miniature figures made of Panchaloha (five metals), utensils are other things to see here.

Magnificent mural paintings were another thing to see here. We can find the most famous mural of Kerala Gajendra Moksham, a huge one, 14 feet by 11 feet. Gajendra Moksham means the salvation of the elephant. It is an exquisite piece of art depicting an elephant saluting Lord Vishnu. Royal family worshipped Lord Vishnu.

Image by Appusviews via Wikimedia

Department of Archaeology protects Krishnapuram Palace as a monument.  They maintain the palace presently in a good condition. Following the rules of preserving a heritage building

How to reach

You can reach the temple by taking NH 47. The palace was built near the Sree Krishna Swamy Temple in the village of Krishnapuram. This is between Ochira and Kayamkulam. We need to travel 100 km to reach Cochin airport towards North. Trivandrum airport is also 100km from here towards South.

Kayamkulam Junction is 8 kilometers away which is the nearest railway station.  Mondays and National Holidays are holiday for  visitors to Krishnapuram Palace . The visiting time is from 9:00 to 5:00 pm. 

Conclusion

Krishnapuram Palace is not just any palace; it is a living legacy of the erstwhile rulers with a fascinating collection of artifacts and splendid architecture. The palace is just 47 kilometers from Aleppey, so it should be included in your itinerary when you are visiting that part of Kerala.