LOCATION
Located at a comfortable distance of 10 km from Ernakulam city at Palace Road in Kochi. It is in the southern state of India, Kerala.
HISTORY
Mattancherry Palace was a Portuguese creation which was gifted to Veera Kerala Verman, the erstwhile king of Kochi in 1557, to get his favors and to mitigate their wrongdoings as they had annihilated a Hindu temple. The Palace came to be known as the Dutch Palace as it was later renovated in the 17th Century, by the Dutch Rulers, who won over the Portuguese.
ARCHITECTURE
The external facade, with its simple two-storeyed structur, plain white walls and brown roofs, misrepresents the beautiful interiors and the valuable Kochi culture it preserves. The Hindu temples of Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna, throng the Palace. The central hall of the Palace consists of a temple where the royal family of Kochi used to worship their deity, Pazhayannur Bhagvati. The murals represent the Royal memoirs in the form of weapons, accessories, ceremonial drapes and palanquins of the Kochi Kings. The second floor of the Palace possesses remarkable carved ceilings, made of wood. The walls of the assembly hall narrate the tales of Mahabarata and Ramayana, the sacred Hindu epics, through wall paintings.
MAIN ATTRACTIONS:
Murals depicting the Goddess Lakshmi seated on the lotus flower, Lord Vishnu resting, Lord Krishna lifting the Gobardhan Parvat with his little finger.
Carved wooden Ceilings on the second floor, brass cups decorating the place, coconut shell flooring that represents Kerala's art and innovativeness.
A fine representation of the Royal traditions of Kochi through various artifacts and murals.
NEARBY SIGHTSEEING:
Fort Kochi: The oldest church of India, Saint Francis Church is in this part of the country, it was built in the early 16th Century.
Bolgatty Palace: Situated in the Bigatti island, it offers a scenic view of the island and makes an excellent recreation spot. You can enjoy a stay at the Palace, as it presently serves as a hotel.
Aparana Chauhan
