Palaces in Trivandrum

1. Padmanabhapuram Palace

Padmanabhapuram Palace is located in Thuckalay near Nagercoil which is about 60 kilometres away from Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Trivandrum city. History says that a Thai Kottaram is built in AD 1550 by the king, who ruled the Travancore under Venad Kingdom. This Thai Kottaram is then developed into a palace by the ruler Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (AD 1592-AD 1609) in AD 1601. But it was the Marthanda Varma, who reconstructed the palace to the present day palace in 1750. Also this palace is considered as the capital of Travancore Kingdom during the period of (AD 1729-AD 1795), before Thiruvananthapuram, which becomes the capital in 1795. Now the palace is situated in Tamil Nadu, but it was administrated by the Archeology Department of Kerala Government, since the land and palace belongs to the Kerala Government. This palace is a perfect example for the traditional architecture style of kerala. Vistors are allowed to visit the palace. Padmanabhapuram Palace Timings are given below. Padmanabhapuram PalaceTimings: 9.00 AM to 3.00 PM all days,except Mondays and National Holidays.

The different Sections of Padmanabhapuram Palace are,

1. Poomukham: The entrance of Padmanabhapuram palace is called as Poomukham. Poomukhan leads to the ancient door of palace. A brass lamp with a knight on horse back is hanged in the Poomukham. Also you can see a Chinese Chair, which was presented by the Chinese merchants and a Onavillu, which was presented by the landlords during a Onam Festival.

2. Mantrasala: Mantrasala or King’s Council chamber is the most beautiful part of padmanabhapuram palace. The floor of mantrasala is also beautiful and is cool and dark. The floor is said to be made in burnt coconut shells, egg white and a mixture of various substances. The sittings of Mantrasala are decorated with Chinese model sittings. After Mantrasala there is a passage,which leads to the Oottupura or Dining Hall.

3. Oottupura: Oottupura or Dinning hall is built for the purpose of serving free meals to the people.  Oottupura has a capacity to accommodate at about 1000 people at a time. You can see several huge Chinese jars in the floors, which are used to store the pickles.

4. Thai Kottaram: Thai Kottaram is the oldest part of Padmanabhapuram Palace and is said to be built in the year AD 1550, it is then rebuilt during the rule of Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. It was built in the manner of traditional Nalukettu Style.  An Ekantamandapam otherwise known as open verandah in Thai Kottaram consists of a Kannithoonu (ceiling supporting pillar) with floral designs is built from the wood of jack fruit tree with aritistic brilliance. This artistic brilliance reflects the kerala traditional style. Some of the ritualistic followings such as Kalamezhuthu, inorder to satisfy the goddess were done here. There is also a tunnel (secret passage)connecting Thaikottaram with Charottukkottaram. This tunnel is used specially during the times of battle or attack to the royal family.

5. King’s Cot, Queen’s Dressing Room and the Palace Toilet: The king’s ornamental cot is on the first floor of Uppirikka Maliga, which is said to be made from sixty four types of herbal timbers, presented by the dutch merchants. The king’s cot leads to the Queen’s Dressing room. A polished stone cot placed in the queen’s dressing room, which is used for cooling effect. There is also two palace toilet for both king and the queen near this room.

6. Armoury and Watch Tower: Armoury building is made such that it the length of the room is more than the breadth, with no windows and ventilation facilities. Also there are only two entrances to the armoury building, one at the northern end towards Watch tower and other from the Uppirikka Maliga. The movements of the surroundings places can be detected through this watch tower. History says that thousands of weapons were stored in the Armoury building. These weapons were said to be confiscated by the British army due to the order of Colonel Macaulay and the remaining weapons were today exhibited in the Heritage Museum.

7. Ambari Mukhappu: Ambari Mukhappu was constructed for the rulers to view chariot races (temple cart race) during the festival seasons and also to appear infront of common people on special occasions.  Ambari means the seat which put on elephants back for the purpose of safaris. Ambari Mukhappu is called so, since it is constructed in the manner of Ambari. The Ambari Mukhappu is a perfect example of artistic craftsmanship of Kerala wood carving.

8. Indra Vilasom: Indra Vilasom building was mainly built for accommoding the foreign tourists and dignitaries coming to visit the travancore. Unlike other buildings, Indra Vilasom is not built in typical Travancore style. However we can see the inspiration of kerala architecture is found in the structure and shape of the building.

9. Medicinal Floor and the Palace Pond: You can see a flight of steps, which leads to the Medicinal floors and bathing pond of the palace.

10. Navarathri Mandapam: It was Marthanda Varma Maharaja in AD 1744, who built the Navarathri Mandapam. The main speciality of this Navarathri Mandapam is, whole the Mandapam were built of solid rock, which is only place in the palace made of stones. The length of the building extends to 66 feet and has a width of 27 feet. This building is rich in sculpture designs, which speaks us the cultural and artistic tradition. This Navarathri Mandapam is mainly used for the performing several cultural and art programmes during the Navarathri festival. The floors are finely polished which gives a mirror look. Other speciality is the Kilivathil (small wooden windows), made for the king and the members of royal family to see the programmes, without being seen by the common people.

11. Thekee Kottaram (Now it is Heritage Museum): Thekee Kottaram is believed to be have an age of around 400 years old. Today the Thekee Kottaram (Southern Palace) is transformed to historical heritage Museum, exhibiting various collections of old weapons, paintings, sculptures and antique households.

2. Attingal Palace

Attingal Palace is located in the Attingal town, which is thirty two kilometers north of Trivandrum city. The palace is said to be built in the fourteenth century and it had a significant role in the history of Kerala. It played an important role in the expansion of Travancore Family. The Attingal Palace gained importance in the fourteenth century, after Udaya Marthanda Varma come up to the throne of Venad Kingdom (Old Travancore). He adopted two princesses from the regal family of the Kolathiris of North Malabar. After that, he built two palaces, one at Attingal and another at Kunnummel for each princess.

Another importance of this palace is that, it witnessed the first ever joint revolt against the British and is said to be happened in 15th April, 1721. A British group containing 140 men was killed during the incident and it leads to a series of rebellions. The main attraction of this palace is the wall paintings and the murals.  Today the palace is under the management of Devaswom Board.

3. Kanakakunnu Palace

Kanakakunnu Kottaram is located in Trivandrum, which is about two kilometers away from the Trivandrum Central Railway Station and is close to Napier Museum. It is situated at the top of a small hill, which is surrounded with meadows and groves. The palace is built by Sree Moolam Thirunnal during his reign. However, the palace was again reconstructed to the present day palace by the Sree Chithira Thirunal with opening the tennis courts and others. Now the Kanakakunnu Kottaram was under the control of Tourism Department of Kerala State Government. The main attraction of this kottaram is from October to March due to the All India Dance Festival conducted by the Tourism Department every year. The Sooryakanthy auditorium and the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium are added attractions. Both the auditoriums are common venues for different cultural events.

4. Kilimanoor Palace

Kilimanoor Kottaram is located at about forty kilometers from Trivandrum city and is said to be built in 1753. The palace is famous as it is the homeland of the celebrated Indian painter, Raja Ravi Varma. The palace is built in typical old Kerala Nalukettu style structures and is rich in large and small size buildings, ponds and wells. The total area of palace covers about six hectares.

At the Kilimanoor Palace, the chief entry directs you to the studio; where the Raja Ravi Varma used to spend his days for creating the finest paintings. Several reproduced works of Raja Ravi Varma's famed paintings are also showcased here. These paintings will surely serve as a source of encouragement to promising artists as well as other art professionals.

The historical importance and its connection with Travancore royal family is that, the rulers of Travancore royal family will adopt the members from several royal families including Kolathunadu and others and settled them in Kilimanoor Palace. Other importance is that the Velu Thampi Dalawa held several meetings at Kilimanoor Kottaram while preparing for several rebellions against the British Empire. He also handed over his sword to the members of Kilimanoor Kottaram members before his death and has been kept there till the Indian president; Dr Rajendra Prasad received this sword from the palace and took it to the Delhi Museum.

5. Kuthiramalika Palace

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum is located adjacent to Padmanabhaswamy Temple in East Fort, Trivandrum. The palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma (1813-1834 AD). The palace is full of wood carvings built with traditional Travancore architectural method.  The palace displays a row of paintings of earlier Travancore rulers from Marthanda Varma to Chithira Thirunal. Also it displays several household materials, ornaments used in the past by the Royal Family and the firearms, weapons and guns captured from the dutch army.  

Kuthiramalika is built by the sculptors from Thanjavur. The roofs are designed elegantly which is one of the main attractions of this Palace. It is said that around 1000 people worked for almost 4 years to build the palace. An outstanding monument of 122 horses is attached to the palace. Also the roof beams of the palace are carved with the face of horses. So the name Kuthiramalika. 'Dantasimhasana' (King’s Throne) made of ivory is the most attractive sight in this palace. Other attractions of this palace include 14 life-size figures portraying different scenes from the Kerala myths in the form of Kathakali. Magnificent ivory cots, a musical tree that produces the eight 'swaras' when tapped, etc are other attractions of this palace museum. There are sixteen rooms in the palace and these sixteen rooms are built in different patterns. The Verandah Ceilings are scattered with floral decorations. Enormous Belgium mirrors fixed on the wall and a library made with full of woods are another attractions.

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum became a home for many great musicians during Swathi Thirunal’s rule, including the renowned Thanjavur Quartet brothers, Kannayya Bhagavathar (Tyagaraja's follower), Ananthapadmanabha Goswami (Maharashtrian singer), Shadkala Govinda Marar, are prominent among them. Swathi Thirunal spent much of his time in this palace for composing many of his musical pieces. Also he spent his last days in this palace.

Swathi Sangeethotsavam:  Swathi Sangeethotsavam is a week long festival of music featuring entirely the masterpiece compositions of Swathi Thirunal which was held in Kuthira Malika. This musical event is performed every year from January 6th to 12th.

6. Kowdiar Palace

It was constructed in 1915, during the reign of Sree Moolam Thirunal. The Kowdiar Palace, located in Thiruvananthapuram, was gifted to Sethu Parvathi Bayi. At one time, she served as the Junior Rani of Attingal under the Senior Rani, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi. It also serves as the official residence of the Travancore Royal Family. The palace comprises 150 rooms, each designed in the traditional Kerala architectural style. Access to the palace is restricted.

Kowdiar Palace was also the residence of the late Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and his family. Currently, the descendants of the Travancore royal family reside here. While the general public is not permitted to enter the palace, it can be viewed from the gate. Nearby attractions include the Kanakakkunnu Palace, the Napier Museum, and the Raj Bhavan. Kowdiar Palace is situated six kilometers from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station and fourteen kilometers from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

7. Koyikkal Palace

Located in Nedumangad, 18 kilometers from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, the Koyikkal Palace was built during the reign of Umayamma Rani (1677–1684) of the Venad royal family. The palace is currently under the control of the Kerala State Archaeology Department. It is constructed in the traditional "Nalukettu" architectural style, featuring sloping roofs and an inner courtyard.

The first floor of the palace houses a Folklore Museum, established in 1992. It displays a variety of artifacts, including exquisite musical instruments, traditional household items—such as wooden kitchen utensils, copperware, and brassware—paintings, antique tools, and objects related to folk arts. Among the rare items on display are the "Chandravalayam" and "Nanthuni"—small, string-based musical instruments made of wood—which serve as major attractions. These two instruments are not found in any other museum in the state.

The museum also exhibits ancient palm-leaf manuscripts (Thaliyolas), an anklet known as a "Chilambu", and traditional attire once worn by queens, referred to as "Maravuri". Other notable displays include an "Orakudukka" (a device used by "Yogis" for intellectual exercises), a "Gajalakshmi" lamp (depicting the Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi), a "Kettu-vilakku" (a ceremonial lamp designed to be mounted on an elephant), and a "Padayani Kolam" (a ritual mask/costume). The headgear and costumes worn by "Ottanthullal" performers are displayed here.

The ground floor of the palace houses a numismatic museum—the only one of its kind in the state. The museum’s primary attraction is its collection of ancient coins from various countries and historical eras. The display of these rare, historically significant, and valuable coins serves as evidence of Kerala’s trade relations with other nations, dating back as far as 1000 BCE. Some of the oldest coins from Kerala, including the "Ottaputhan", "Erattaputhan", and "Kaliyugarayan Panam", are showcased here.

A Venetian coin, believed to have been gifted to Jesus Christ, is among the museum’s prized possessions. Notable Indian coins in the collection include the "Karsha"—estimated to be 2,500 years old—and the "Rasi", which was issued by local rulers in Kerala during the 10th century. In the 17th century, the rulers of Travancore and Kochi issued their own coinage. It is said that one particular gold coin, issued by the rulers of Travancore, remained in circulation from the 15th to the 17th century. The "Kochi Puthan" is a type of coin that was issued by the rulers of Kochi in the 18th century. The collection includes around 374 Roman gold coins—each valued at five lakh rupees or more today—featuring Roman gods and deities such as Venus, Mars, Ceres, Hercules, and Genius, as well as coins minted during the reign of rulers like Hadrian (117–138 AD). The museum also displays coins used by various Indian dynasties and rulers, including the Gwalior royal family, the Nizam of Hyderabad, Hyder Ali, and Tipu Sultan. The Koyikkal Palace holds a significant place in the history of Kerala.