Puttan Malika Palace

Puttan Malika Palace

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For the first time in 200 years, the royal family has opened the Puttan Malika Palace to the public, primarily in order to generate and raise funds for the restoration of the Palace. Although presently most of the palace remains off-limits, visitors are allowed to wander around some of the Palace's most impressive wings, which have now been converted into a museum. The Puttan Malika Palace, at the south-east of the Sri Padmanavaswami Temple, became the seat of the Travancore kings as Padmanabhapuram left at the end of the 19th Century. Cool chambers, lined with delicately carved wooden screens and highly polished plaster floors, house a host of Travancore heirlooms. Among the usual possession and display of portraits, royal regalia and weapons, there are some real gems, such as a solid crystal throne given by the Dutch, along with some exquisite murals. The real breath-catcher, however, is the muted and elegant Kerala style of architecture. Beneath sloping red tiled roofs, hundreds of wood pillars carved into the forms of rampant horses prop up the eaves, with airy verandahs projecting onto the surrounding lawns. Always the patron of the arts and tradition, the royal family have effectively channelled their interest by holding an open-air Carnatic music festival annually during the festival of Navratri in the months of October or November. The Puttan Malika is truly a melting pot of history, art and tradition, making it a must-visit on every traveller?s list.