Padmanabhapuram Palace - An architectural marvel of South India

Hello friends...!! Hope you all had a fantastic Easter!! How was the long weekend ?! Mine was perfect with meeting family and friends, good food and lots of rest... !!

Well, when I started this blog I had intended to feature the palaces,temples and traditional architecture of India .. But somehow due to one reason or the other it has taken a long time to do the first post itself... mmm ... Let's consider this as a start for many more to come out of this blog... ;-) ;-) ... !!

A magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, Padmanabhapuram Palace is one of the best examples of traditional Kerala architecture. The building displays a simplicity and purity of the style of Kerala architecture - the pointed gables, the dormer windows and long corridors.  One can see a cot built of seven pieces of polished granite,  mural paintings, intricate and exquisite carvings in teak and rose wood, a Chinese chair presented to the king by Chinese merchants etc.,

 The entrance to the palace ... - with doors standing

over 10 feet high..

The heavy wooden door at the entrance ..

The wood work that has been done centuries ago is amazing !!

       

The ornate entrance to the room called 'Poomukkam' - where the king entertained special guests. Built in the indigeneous architectural style of Kerala, the entrance of this building is shaped as a triangle. On the wooden ceiling ninety flowers have been carved - The speciality of these flowers is that each of them is unique.

Marvellous and unique wood work in the ceiling... !!

A hanging brass lamp with a knight on horse-back..

The Mantrasala or council chamber - I wonder how many meetings with the kings trusted ministers and people would have taken place in this chamber ...?!....

A  view  from the carved wooden windows.. - Love the
intricate wood work.. One of my favorite shots... !!

The flooring remains smooth through all these years

 and attracts special attention..

The dining hall that accomodates 1000 persons at a time..

The ornamental bed that is made of 64 types of herbs,

and is a gift from the Dutch merchants.

The artistic wood work in the ceiling of the bedroom ..

Wooden enclosure with peepholes, where the women of the royal household sit and watch the performances at the Hall of performance.

 Ambari Mukhappu - the crowning example of craftmanship of Travancore wood carving. 'Ambari' is actually the seat put on elephants back for safaris. The building has been constructed based on the shape and structure of an 'ambari'. It was built for kings to view chariot races during festivals and to appear before the public on special occasions.

 All Images Taken By Me. Please donot re-use without permission.