| If you’re looking to explore in and around Thiruvananthapuram, a visit to the Padmanabhapuram Palace would be a good place to start. The Padamanabhapuram Palace, located within the complex of the Padmanabhapuram Fort, is at a distance of around 63 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The palace is located at the foot of the Veli Hills, which form a part of the Western Ghats and has the river Valli flowing past nearby. Once the capital of the state of Travancore, the Padmanabhapuram palace echoes the Travancore architectural style. The palace is famous for its 17th and 18th century murals, carved mahogany ceiling, coloured mica windows, secret underground passages, inner courtyards, museum, four poster medicinal bed, granite dance halls and special black shiny floors which are made from a unique combination of egg white, jaggery, lime, burnt coconut, charcoal and river sand. Iravipillai Iravivarma Kulasekhara Perumal, who ruled Travancore between 1592 A.D. and 1609 A.D., constructed the palace around 1601 A.D. In the late 18th century, the capital of Travancore was shifted from here to Thiruvananthapuram. The Padamanabhapuram Palace complex consists of several structures: Mantrasala- the King's Council Chamber, Thai Kottaram- the Mother's Palace - believed to have been constructed before 1550, Nataksala- the Hall of Performance or of Performing Arts - A four-storied building at the centre of the Palace complex, Thekee Kottaram- the Southern Palace. The palace complex continues to be one of the best examples of traditional Kerala architecture and some portions of the sprawling complex are also the hallmark of traditional Kerala style building art. Definitely worth a visit, it must be noted that the Palace does not entertain visitors on Mondays. | 
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