Mattancherry Palace, one of the well preserved monuments in Kerala, is a gamut of both traditional Indian and European architecture.
Kerala Tourism : Kerala Monuments : Mattancherry Palace
Mattancherry Palace
Fast Facts
| Location | Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala |
| Nearest Airport/Railway Station | Cochin International Airport, Ernakulam Station |
| Nearby Attractions | Paradesi Synagogue, Pazhayannur Bhagavathy Temple |
| Best Time to Visit | August to May |
Mattancherry Palace is located in Mattancherry, in the state of Kerala. The palace derives its name from the location. In fact, the palace was named so, because the Dutch carried out a few renovation work and extension of the structure of the Palace in the year 1663. The palace is equally famous among scholars and tourist, because it has a number of murals and artifacts of great historical importance. The palace is built in a quadrangular structure, which is the traditional architectural style of Kerala, called ‘Nalukettu’. This particular style consists of the courtyard in the middle of the structure. In the courtyard of the Palace, there stands a temple dedicated to Pazhayannur Bhagavati, who was the Goddess of the Kochi Royal family. There are two more temples on each side of the palace, which are dedicated to lord Siva and Lord Krishna.
History
Mattancherry Palace has seen a number of glorious eras and numerous different rulers in a short span. The palace was presented to Veera Kerala Varma, who was the king of Kochi in the year 1555 AD, by the Portuguese. This was done to appease the king after the Portuguese plundered a temple nearby. Later the Palace came under the rule of the Dutch who carried out some major renovations and extensions in the palace in 1663.
Mattancherry Palace kept on transferring from the hands of one ruler to another. After the Dutch rule, the palace was renovated numerous times by a number of native rulers. The murals present in the palace tell the stories of the kings who ruled it. The palace walls are picture galleries of the Cochin Rajas. Since the palace was home to a number of native as well as foreign rulers and invaders in its entire history, each one added something or the other supplementing it with unique tints from various cultures. This has made the palace look very colorful. The palace has lived and survived a long history of invasions and plunder. Though it is tainted with blood and gore of wars, it has managed to keep its majestic look intact.
Attractions
The main attraction of Mattancherry Palace is its murals. Some of these depict the stories from the Hindu mythological scriptures, such as Mahabharata, Guruvayurappan and Ramayana. The interesting fact about these murals is that this is the longest collection of mural paintings found in Kerala spanning a length of more than 300ft. The scraped masonry walls and round-headed windows of the building give it a tinge of European architecture, while the sloping roof, wooden balconies and doors are pure examples of the traditional architecture of Kerala.
Adding to the traditional Keralite look are the interiors of the palace. The dining hall has carved wooden ornate ceiling, which is decorated with a series of brass cups. Flooring of the palace has been done in the traditional Kerala style of architecture. A mixture of burnt coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices and egg whites, which mock the look of polished black marble, has been used for the flooring of the palace.
How to Reach
By Road
Mattancherry Palace is easily accessible by road. It is well connected with the network of public transport in Kerala. One can also take private transport such as a taxi, to reach the palace.
By Air
Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport, situated just 20kms from the Ernakulam Town. From here, you can board flights to a number of domestic and international destinations.
By Rail
The nearest railhead is the Ernakulam Railway station and from here you can take a train to a number of major cities in India.
History
Mattancherry Palace has seen a number of glorious eras and numerous different rulers in a short span. The palace was presented to Veera Kerala Varma, who was the king of Kochi in the year 1555 AD, by the Portuguese. This was done to appease the king after the Portuguese plundered a temple nearby. Later the Palace came under the rule of the Dutch who carried out some major renovations and extensions in the palace in 1663.
Mattancherry Palace kept on transferring from the hands of one ruler to another. After the Dutch rule, the palace was renovated numerous times by a number of native rulers. The murals present in the palace tell the stories of the kings who ruled it. The palace walls are picture galleries of the Cochin Rajas. Since the palace was home to a number of native as well as foreign rulers and invaders in its entire history, each one added something or the other supplementing it with unique tints from various cultures. This has made the palace look very colorful. The palace has lived and survived a long history of invasions and plunder. Though it is tainted with blood and gore of wars, it has managed to keep its majestic look intact.
Attractions
The main attraction of Mattancherry Palace is its murals. Some of these depict the stories from the Hindu mythological scriptures, such as Mahabharata, Guruvayurappan and Ramayana. The interesting fact about these murals is that this is the longest collection of mural paintings found in Kerala spanning a length of more than 300ft. The scraped masonry walls and round-headed windows of the building give it a tinge of European architecture, while the sloping roof, wooden balconies and doors are pure examples of the traditional architecture of Kerala.
Adding to the traditional Keralite look are the interiors of the palace. The dining hall has carved wooden ornate ceiling, which is decorated with a series of brass cups. Flooring of the palace has been done in the traditional Kerala style of architecture. A mixture of burnt coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices and egg whites, which mock the look of polished black marble, has been used for the flooring of the palace.
How to Reach
By Road
Mattancherry Palace is easily accessible by road. It is well connected with the network of public transport in Kerala. One can also take private transport such as a taxi, to reach the palace.
By Air
Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport, situated just 20kms from the Ernakulam Town. From here, you can board flights to a number of domestic and international destinations.
By Rail
The nearest railhead is the Ernakulam Railway station and from here you can take a train to a number of major cities in India.
