Padmanabhapuram Palace - 16th Century Wooden Palace

An ancient palace with wonderful architecture, Padmanabhapuram palace located in Thuckalay village is a fine example of art and craftsmanship. This wooden palace, built in the 16th century is sure to lure every visitor with its unparalleled beauty. Located at the foothills of Veli Hills, a part of Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu - Kerala border with an area of 6.5 acres, this palace was built by Ravi Pillai Ravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal of Travancore Kingdom. Due to its intricate wooden works, the art science of artistry is unique here. The building was the oldest seat of power of Travancore, from where they had ruled Kerala. The main entrance of the palace is reached after passing through a vast courtyard. The council chamber here is known as Manthrasala, is a building with colored mica windows and floors.

The floor glows with a unique combination of egg white, lime, coconut, charcoal, river sand, jaggery etc. Next to notice is the Queen’s Mother Palace, known as ‘Thai kottaram’ with its ceilings carved by floral motifs of more than 90 varied kinds. It also has an inner courtyard, called 'nalukettu'. The audience hall is comparatively the newest addition to the palace was built in the midst of the 19th century. The dining hall of the palace has a capacity to accommodate around 1000 people. It has an archaeological museum displaying a wide array of artifacts, furniture, coins, etc in the Southern Palace, known as ‘Thekke Kottaram’. Though geographically comes under Tamil Nadu state, the palace is under the governance of Kerala.