Mattancherry Palace
Location : Mattancherry, 10 km from Ernakulam.
Visiting hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Fridays.
Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of
Kochi, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. The palace with a Bhagavathi
temple in the central courtyard is built like the typical Kerala style mansion
- the Nalukettu - the home of the aristocracy, nobility and upper classes,
with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard.
The double storeyed palace building which stands by the panoramic Kochi back
waters has an exquisite collection of murals collectively covering over 300
sqft of its walls. The themes of these murals have been borrowed from the
great Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha, and mythology and
legends about the Hindu gods especially Guruvayurappan. Some murals depict
scenes from Kumarasambhavam and other works of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa.Also
on display are royal paraphernalia like weapons, swings and furniture which
offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.
Getting there : There are frequent bus and boat services to Mattancherry.
The boats start from Main Boat Jetty near Subash Park at Ernakulam town.
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam, about 10 km
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam
town.
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Kerala Monuments ////////////////////////////////////////
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