Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)

Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)

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Mattancherry Palace also known as Dutch Palace is located at a distance of 10km from Ernakulam city. The Palace is known for its medieval charm. It was built by the Portuguese and presented to Raja of Kochi, Veera Kerala Verma. It was called the Dutch Palace after the Dutch made some renovations and extensions on it. The Palace is also known for the Kerala murals depicting Hindu temple art, other paintings and exhibits of the kings. The entrance to the Mattancherry Palace compound is through two arches which are typically Portuguese in character and a flight of steps through a portico on the south, gives access to a suite of public rooms on the upper level of the palace. The palace with two floors built around a central courtyard follows the traditional Kerala style of architecture known as 'nalukettus'. From the outside, the palace looks European in character with scraped masonry walls and round-headed windows and doors but its sloping tiled roof and wooden balconies are indigenous features. Ornately carved wooden ceilings are a constant feature here. The palace is tastefully done up with paintings depicting different mythological scenes and also scenes from great Sanskrit works like Kalidasa s Kumarasambhavam