Ancient monuments and old structures always fascinate me. Not only with its beauty but the exceptional architecture that is so strong and stands the test of time. Just like books, these old structures take us to the time of kings and aristocrats lived long ago.
Padmanabapuram Palace is one such place situated about 20 km from Nagercoil, Tamilnadu. Unlike other palaces that glitter in gold, it’s humble. Mostly, it’s built out of eco-friendly products. It was constructed around 1601 AD by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. I was having my own perception of how a palace would be, but this place is different.
The portico displays the stone bed of the king and a wood-crafted chair gifted by the Chinese. The ceiling has intricate wood carvings of nearly 90 flowers each having a unique design. It also has a wooden pillar which is made out of a single jack fruit tree.
Wooden logs are designed in such a way that it attaches the ending of the mud-tile roofing and the wall, serving as windows. It has an additional purpose too – it doesn’t reveal a person in the room to anybody outside. Mostly, the palace has this type of designed logs in the place of windows. Once inside the palace complex all I can see is many buildings of different sizes but every block with mud tile roofing. Besides shielding the room from the hottest summer days, these mud tile roofs keep the room cool being inexpensive and eco friendly.
Kitchen and king’s mother’s dining room
Kitchen is well ventilated and has spacious cooking area. It has a variety of stone grinders. The king’s mother’s bed room had a single wooden cot. And outside her bedroom is her dining room. She dines sitting in the floor having her meals on the low lying wooden table which has exquisite ivory carvings in its sides.
It also had a huge dining hall for guests with a capacity to dine nearly a thousand. There’s another wide room with only two doors and no windows which served as the weapons depository.
Dance floor and make up room
Ancient kings are always interested in developing arts - as a way of educating people with lifestyle concepts by simple dance, songs or plays. And for the common man, it serves as a great time pass. This palace has a special hall for performing arts. The floor is shiny black and has a smooth finish that we can mistake it for granite but it’s actually made up of burnt coconut shells, lime and sand. Right next to the hall is the make-up room for artists. Intricate wood carvings decorate the make-up room from outside.
King’s cot and dining hall
The king’s cot, placed at his bed room is the gift from the Greeks. The cot is made up of 63 different medicinal woods and has a symbol of an eagle as a sign of Greeks.
There are a few stone idols of Hindu gods on display, some, in its ruined form. These idols were said to be found while digging to construct this palace.
Balcony
Ambari mugappu (elephant porch) – it is from here the queens used to watch festival rallies. Elephants take place in almost every festival in Kerala and this porch serves as a view point. The porch is covered with wood works with holes big enough to view what’s happening outside but from outside it will not be clear to see if anyone is sitting at all.
Make up room for queens
There is an exclusive make-up room for the queen and has two big mirrors on either side of the room. The mirror is specially made by hand in Belgium. The room also has a wooden swing with hand-made iron rods that serves as handle. Portraits of different queens decorate the wall.
There is a bathing pond for the queen which is in a ruined state now. A small balcony oversees the pond and a few rooms are attached to it. These rooms have stone grinders in it. I think it’s used for grinding herbals for them.
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| Does it look like a palace!!! But it is!! |
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| Decorated ceiling with each flower having a unique design |
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| Pillar made out of a single jack fruit tree |
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| Secret underground passage - now closed |
Every design, structure, room and door serves a specific purpose in the palace. In every inch the serene beauty of nature is felt. This fort remains a favorite tourist spot for locals and foreigners as well. This palace stands proudly as a symbol of heritage is a best example for traditional Kerala architecture. As I was exploring different rooms, I was thinking how wonderful it feels to own such a palace with history. This place shows how even the royalty lived their lives in harmony with nature.
