Padmanabhapuram Palace complex is located in at Padmanabhapuram Fort, close to the town of Thuckalay in Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu. It is about 20 km from Nagercoil, and about 50 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The palace complex is inside an old granite fortress around four kilometers long. The palace is located at the foot of the Veli Hills, which form a part of the Western Ghats. The river Valli flows nearby.The palace is administered by the Government of Kerala archeology department.
The palace was constructed around 1601 A.D by Iravipillai Iravivarma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Travancore between 1592 A.D. and 1609 A.D. In the late 18th century, the capital of Travancore was shifted from here to Thiruvananthapuram, and the place lost its former glory. However, the palace complex continue to be the best examples of traditional Kerala architecture, and some portions of the sprawling complex are also the hall mark of traditional Kerala style building art. The Padamanabhapuram Palace complex consists of several structures:
- Mantrasala, literal meaning, King's Council Chamber
- Thai Kottaram, literal meaning, Mother's Palace - believed to have been constructed before 1550
- Nataksala, literal meaning, the Hall of Performance, or of Performing Arts
- A four-storeyed building at the centre of the Palace complex
- Thekee Kottaram, literal meaning, the Southern Palace.
How To Get There:
Frequent buses run from Thiruvananthapuram's Thampnoor bus stand for Padmanabhampuram. Best way is to board any bus for Nagercoil or Kanyakumari and alight at Thakkaly.
Padmanabhapuram is 65 km south-east of Tiruvananthapuram. One can either take local buses and or avail of the Kanyakumari tours organised by KTDC.
General Information
Location:54 kms from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Speciality: Wooden Palace.
Timings: 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Useful Information:Closed On Mondays
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