There are several palaces in Kerala that take you to a glorious past of the state. Today, most of them are tourist attractions where you can have a glimpse of the luxurious lives led by the royal families that ruled here. Krishnapuram Palace in Kayamkulam is one such attraction that is worth a visit.
Krishnapuram Palace was the residence of the Kayamkulam royal family. The palace was built in the 18th century by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma who belonged to the Travancore kingdom. Today, the palace is maintained by the Department of Archaeology.
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Architecture Of The Krishnapuram Palace
Krishnapuram Palace is built as per the typical Kerala style of architecture. With sloped roofs, narrow corridors and dormer windows, the palace resembles the Padmanabhapuram Palace in Kanyakumari, which was then the headquarters of the rulers of Travancore.
Though the palace was in ruins after the monarchic rule ended in the region, the structure was restored by the Department of Archaeology and today, the palace serves as a museum.
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Unique Collection Of The Krishnapuram Palace
Many artefacts and belongings of the royal family are exhibited in the museum. One of the major attractions of the palace museum is 'Gajendra Moksham', which is the largest single piece of mural painting that has been discovered in Kerala till date. 'Gajendra Moksham' literally means 'salvation of the elephant'. This event, taken from the Hindu mythology, is about the elephant King Gajendra who salutes Lord Vishnu as the other Gods and Goddesses look on. This wonderful piece of art is a feast of colours and is one that art enthusiasts would love.
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Another important exhibit here is the Kayamkulam Val (sword). A peculiarity of the sword is that both its sides are sharpened, making it more dangerous than other weapons. A hall named Buddha Mandapam has a rare statue of Lord Buddha, which is one among the four statues that were recovered from the fields and ponds of Alappuzha.
The other exhibits of the museum include a copy of The Bible in Sanskrit, oil lamps, miniature figures, utensils and other items that were used by the Travancore royal family.
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How To Reach The Krishnapuram Palace
Krishnapuram Palace is located at Kayamkulam, around 47 km away from Alappuzha. Click to know how to reach Alappuzha. You can also take a taxi or use public transport to travel from Alappuzha to Kayamkulam.
The Kayamkulam Junction Railway station is just 8 km away from the palace. The nearest airport to the palace is the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, which is around 102 km from the palace.