Located in Kayamkulam, Krishnapuram Palace is a must-visit monument of Kerala. Explore about Krishnapuram Palace, in the article.
Kerala Tourism : Kerala Monuments : Krishnapuram Palace
Krishnapuram Palace
Fast Facts
| Location | Kayamkulam, Kerala |
| Nearest Airport/Railway Station | Thiruvananthapuram International Airport / Kollam Railway Station |
| Best Time to Visit | Krishnaswamy Temple |
Located in Kayamkulam, Krishnapuram Palace is a historically important monument in Kerala. Like many other monuments of Kerala, this palace too speaks of the princely domains who ruled this divine land. Krishnapuram Palace, a part of which now is turned into a museum, is conveniently located by the national highway and thus, is easily accessible. The architectural design of the palace is impressive, as it displays the traditional Kerala architectural style on the outer side and modern techniques of construction on its inner side of the palace. The palace was designed to suit the lifestyle of its residents. There were a number of ancillary units of the palace, which got demolished with the time. However, the main unit still stands intact and it is well protected by the Department of Archaeology.
History
Though the date of original construction of Krishnapuram Palace remains a mystery, there are records to state the exact date of complete demolition and reconstruction of the entire structure. After demolishing the earlier building, the erstwhile ruler of Travancore began constructions of this palace in the eighteenth century. Krishnapuram Palace was initially constructed as a single storey residence, which was known by the natives as ‘Ettukettu’, meaning a building with single storey. The palace was built in traditional Kerala architectural style, with a small pond by its side, a small temple inside the premises of the palace and Urappura. This structure was built under the management of Kamyyan Dalava. Later on, the structure was enlarged by Ayyappan Mathsnada Pillai.
Krishnapuram Palace was renovated and constructed again to its present glory, by Anizham Thirunal Martanda Varma. He had invaded Kayyakulam to the Travancore state in the 1746 battle. The palace premises have a number of other buildings, which were constructed, demolished and reconstructed time and again by a number of rulers who acquired it. The building now stands as a three storied structure with a well paved complex, which is the result of the final renovations that took place during 1950's. These renovations were done by the Archaeological Department of Kerala. These renovations were done in a modern style in compliance to the scientific techniques prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings. As it is a protected monument now, it houses the office of the Archaeological Museum and its other offices.
Attractions
Interestingly, there were no written records found which could place the exact date of construction of Krishnapuram Palace. Another interesting fact about the palace is that only men used to stay, while the ladies of the family used to stay at a place situated due north of this palace. The splendid palace quickly catches attention of a viewer, because of its traditional form of Architecture. The palace is also famous for the number of artifacts it stores and a large number of murals which are beautifully preserved by the Archaeological Department.
How to Reach
By Road
Reaching Krishnapuram Palace by road is easy, as the nearest city - Alappuzha is located just 47 km away. It is easy to commute to and from the palace using public transport, because the network of roads is well set up.
By Air
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is the nearest airport which is located about 103 km away from the palace. From there, one can catch a flight to a number of destinations in India and abroad.
By Rail
Kollam is the nearest railway station, located about 39 km from the palace. From Kollam, you can catch a train to a number of major destinations nearby.
History
Though the date of original construction of Krishnapuram Palace remains a mystery, there are records to state the exact date of complete demolition and reconstruction of the entire structure. After demolishing the earlier building, the erstwhile ruler of Travancore began constructions of this palace in the eighteenth century. Krishnapuram Palace was initially constructed as a single storey residence, which was known by the natives as ‘Ettukettu’, meaning a building with single storey. The palace was built in traditional Kerala architectural style, with a small pond by its side, a small temple inside the premises of the palace and Urappura. This structure was built under the management of Kamyyan Dalava. Later on, the structure was enlarged by Ayyappan Mathsnada Pillai.
Krishnapuram Palace was renovated and constructed again to its present glory, by Anizham Thirunal Martanda Varma. He had invaded Kayyakulam to the Travancore state in the 1746 battle. The palace premises have a number of other buildings, which were constructed, demolished and reconstructed time and again by a number of rulers who acquired it. The building now stands as a three storied structure with a well paved complex, which is the result of the final renovations that took place during 1950's. These renovations were done by the Archaeological Department of Kerala. These renovations were done in a modern style in compliance to the scientific techniques prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings. As it is a protected monument now, it houses the office of the Archaeological Museum and its other offices.
Attractions
Interestingly, there were no written records found which could place the exact date of construction of Krishnapuram Palace. Another interesting fact about the palace is that only men used to stay, while the ladies of the family used to stay at a place situated due north of this palace. The splendid palace quickly catches attention of a viewer, because of its traditional form of Architecture. The palace is also famous for the number of artifacts it stores and a large number of murals which are beautifully preserved by the Archaeological Department.
How to Reach
By Road
Reaching Krishnapuram Palace by road is easy, as the nearest city - Alappuzha is located just 47 km away. It is easy to commute to and from the palace using public transport, because the network of roads is well set up.
By Air
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is the nearest airport which is located about 103 km away from the palace. From there, one can catch a flight to a number of destinations in India and abroad.
By Rail
Kollam is the nearest railway station, located about 39 km from the palace. From Kollam, you can catch a train to a number of major destinations nearby.
