Alwaye Palace
On the banks of River Periyar
stands imposing Alwaye(
now Aluva) palace ruminating
over a past, long and eventful.
One of the finest palaces
in the state with beautiful
circular verandahs overlooking
the river. Now being used
as Alwaye Guest House.
|
|
|
| |
Location:
Aluva. on N H 47, 15 kms away from
Kochi. near Kochi International
Airport. |
|
Bekal
Fort
The largest and the best preserved
coastal fort in Kerala, Bekal Fort,
is 14 km off Kasargode, North Kerala.
The pristine Bakel beach along with
the fort is being groomed into an
international tourist destination.
The fort has historical as well
as archeological significance.
Location:
Kasargod Nearest airport. Bijayee,
Mangalore( 58 km). |
| |
|
|
Bolghatty
Palace
Built by the Dutch in 1744,
this palace is on an island,
off Cochin in the Arabian
Sea. Earlier Dutch and later
British used the palace as
Governor's residence. Today,
Kerala Tourism Development
Corporation has transformed
the palace into a tourist
hotel. A canopied garden is
another tourist attraction
on the island. |
|
Location:
Kochi. Frequent boat services from
High Court Jetty, Kochi.
|
| |
|
| |
Cheruthuruthy
(Kerala Kalamandalam)
Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy,
was founded by Malayalam Poet Vallathol
in 1930. Main objective was to revive,
preserve and develop ancient and
traditional art form of Kerala,
particularly Kathakali.Kalamandalam
has been the nursery of Kerala's
renowned kathakali artistes. Hundreds
of boys and girls are undergoing
training in various branches of
performing arts such as Mohiniyattom,
Koodiyattom and Ottan Thullal. Many
foreigners captivated by the language
of Kathakali and other art forms
are joining the training sessions.
Koothambalam attached to the Kalamandalam
is a major attraction.
|
The Samadhi (tomb) of the
founder-poet is in the premises
of the Kalamandalam on the
banks of River Bharathapuzha.
|
|
|
Location:
Shornur (Thirssur district) Near
Shornur railway station on Mangalore-
Chennai route. 29 Km away from Thrissur,
bus services from Thrissur Private
bus stand. |
|
Edakkal
Cave, Wayanad
Atop Ambukutty Hills near Ambalavayal
in Wayanad is Edakkal Caves. Two
caves, formed by a split in a mammoth
rock- one roofed over by other-
make up the Edakkal caves. For decades
the caves have been the haven of
archeologists. Ancient carvings
and pictorial wall inscriptions
are supposed to be of pre-historic
period. The stone walls also have
pictures of human beings and instruments.
Archaeologists consider this as
one of the earliest centres of human
habitation. |
| |
A
1500-acre Reserve Forest
also houses as many as 200
stone age monuments. Down
town Ambalavayal has a heritage
museum, first of its kind
in the state. It has a rare
collection of instruments
and curios shedding light
to life, centuries back.
|
|
|
| |
Location:
Caves three km away from Ambalavayal,
Wayanad. Ambalavayal buses from
Kozhikode, Kalpetta and Sulthan
Bathery. |
| |
Mattancherry
Palace
Also known as Dutch Palace. Built
by Portuguese and handed over to
Cochin Raja in 1555 AD and the was
renamed as Mattancheri Palace in
1663, when the Dutch spruced up
the palace. However, neither did
Portuguese nor Dutch stay in the
palace.
The centre of
the building has a Coronation
Hall where Cochin Rajas investitures
were held. Today, it is a portrait
gallery of the Rajas. Rooms adjacent
display 17th century murals depicting
scenes from the epic, the Ramayana.
Location:
Eranakulam. Open for visitors.
10 am to 5 pm Closed on Fridays,
national holidays.
|
|
Hill Palace Museum
This museum showcases wealth
and prosperity of erstwhile
royal family of Cochin.
including the king's throne
and crown.
|
|
|
|
Also on display
are other trapping of royalty
like majestic beds, paintings
, carving and samples of epigraphy.
Tripunithura is also known
for the nearby Chottanikkara
Temple and the Tripunithura
Temple.
Location:
13km off Kochi.
|
| |
|
Jewish
Synagogue, Mattancherry
Built in A D 1568. Great scrolls
of the Old Testament (Bible)
and copper plates in which
the grants of privilege to
Jews from Cochin rulers were
carved are preserved here.Chinese
hand-painted tiles are another
attraction. Finely-wrought
gold and silver crowns gifted
to the synagogue by various
patrons are also displayed.
This, the only Synagogue in
India has a nostalgic past
of a Jewish Diaspora. |
|
|
A
few Jew families are still
residing in Kochi and its
suburbs reciprocating the
love and affection of this
land. Besides, preserving
the Synagogue is also their
mission. |
|
| |
Years
back, hundreds of families were
here, but for them the call of roots
were irresistible. Visitors permitted
from 10 am to 12 am and from 3 pm
to 5 pm. Closed on Saturdays and
Jewish holidays.
Location
: Mattancheri, 8km off Kochi. Bus
, boat services( from High Court
jetty ) available.
|
|
Kanakakkunnu Palace
Situated on a hillock in
the museum compound in Thiruvananthapuram,
the capital city. This imposing,
fine-looking mansion of
the Travancore Rajas is
a stunning piece of architectural
excellence of yore.
|
|
|
| |
|
At night, when
the palace premise is lit up, the
gabled, pagoda style red brick structure
comes alive, bringing to mind the
majesty and gallantry of kings Inside
one can see large crystal chandeliers
and exquisite pieces of royal furniture.
Location : Thiruvananthapuram
|
|
|
|
Karumadikuttan
A 10th century, black granite
statute of Budha, founder
of Buddhism. The statue is
known as Karumadikkuttan is
situated 3 km east of Ambalapuzha,
Alappuzha. Legends are woven
around this idol.
Location
: Ambalapuzha enroute NH
47 between Kollam and Alappuzha.
|
|
Kaviyoor
Stone temple
A temple of historical and archeological
significance, Kaviyoor is on the
banks of River Manimala. The stone
figuress here are considered to
be the earliest specimen of stone
culture.
Location
: Kaviyoor in Mallappally taluk,
Pathanamthitta district.
|
|
Koyikkal Palace
A 15th century palace. Situated
between Ponmudi hill station
and Kuttalam waterfalls.
The manor was the official
residence o Umayamma Rani
of the Venad royal family.
|
|
|
|
In the double-storeyed Nalukettu
(Traditional house) Kerala Archeology
Department has set up two museums
of folklore and numismatics.
Location: 18 km
away from Thiruvananthapuram.
|
| |
Krishnapuram
Palace, Alappuzha
The 18th century Krishnapuram Palace
was built during the reign of the
Travancore Monarch, Marthanda Varma.
A double storied structure which
displays typical characteristics
of Kerala's architecture-gabled
roofs, dormer windows and narrow
corridors. The 'Ganjendra Moksham'
Mural, one of the largest mural
paintings in Kerala, is a major
attraction in the palace.
|
| |
A museum
with antique sculptures, paintings
and bronzes is housed inside
the building. The Palace is
situated 47kms from Alleppey.
Location:
Kayamkulam. 47 km from Alappuzha.
|
|
|
|
Kuthiramalika
This palace was built by Tamil sculptures
from Thanchavore. Pillars carved
on single stone and exquisitely
designed roofs enhances the beauty
of the palace. A striking monument
of 122 horses is attached to the
palace. Hence derived the name Kuthiramalika
( kuthira means horse).
Location:
Thiruvananthapuram, Eastfort.
|
|
|
|
Pazhassi
Raja's tomb,Mananthavady
Pazhassi Kerala Varma Raja
had a heroic death after
fighting to the finish against
British supremacy in the
thick forests of Wayanad.
he died on November 30,1805.
His tomb at the Mananthavady,
Wayanad had been a source
of inspiration for many
to fight the colonial forces.
|
|
Archeology
Department had taken over the Pazhassi
tomb at Mananthavady town.
Location: Mananthavady,
30 km from Kalpetta, Wayanad district
head quarters.100 km from Kozhikode.
Round the clock bus service from
Kozhikode KSRTC stand. Accessible
from Mysore and Bangalore via road.
|
| |
Napier Museum
Gem of architectural exuberance,
perfectly blending Chinese
and Mughal styles with Kerala's
traditional structural design.
The ethereal beauty to the
structure was added with
the magical brush up of
Chisholm, a 19th century
architect.
|
|
|
|
Strips of blue
and pink alternating with yellow
and red, scalloped arches of a banana
yellow, elaborately carved balconies,
red and white lattice work and mock
friezes make an engrossing ensemble.
Location
: Thiruvananthapuram.
|
|
|
|
Padmanabhapuram
Palace
Manor of erstwhile Venad
kings, Padmanabhapuram palace
is a 16 the century marvel
on wood. It flaunts the
dexterity of Kerala's master
carpenters.
|
|
| |
Carved
wooden ceilings, slatted shuttered
windows, intricate interlocking
beams, sculpted door panels and
pagoda like tiled roofs stand testimony
to the deftness of architectures.Intricate
carvings, murals and exquisite wall
paintings reflect the prolific talent
of the sculptors and painters who
enjoyed the patronage of Travancore
kings.
Location
: 60 km from Thiruvananthapuram. |
| |
Tipu's Fort, Palghat
The fort in the nerve centre
of Palakkad, built by Haider
Ali of Mysore, dates back
to 1766 A.D. Today known
after Haider Ali's son Tipu
Sultan. The fort still echoes
the ballyhoo of those troops
which barged into it to
fight pitched battles.
|
|
|
| |
|
The fort was supposed
to have built the fort to facilitate
communication between Coimbatore
and Palakkad, two vantage points..
In 1784 after a 11-days siege, Lord
Fullerton, the then British Colonel,
conquered the fort. Later Zamorin's
troops wrested control but the British
occupied the fort in 1790.
Location : Palakkad
, 79km from Thrissur. Rail, road
network with all centres in South
India.
|
|
Pallippuram
Fort
Another Portuguese legacy bequeathed
to Kochi. Raised in 1503. Reckoned
as one of the oldest European
monuments in India. The Catholic
Church here is an important pilgrim
centre. Location
: Ernakulam.
Pazhassirajah Museum &
Art Gallery
Put on view are ancient mural
paintings, antique bronzes and
old coins as well as models of
temples, megalithic monuments
like dolmonoid cysts and umbrella
stones. Run by the State Archaeological
Department. The Art Gallery near
the museum contains paintings
of Raja Ravi Varma. Location
: Kozhikode ,East Hill.
Shakthan
Thampuran Palace
Also known as Thoppu palace, is
spread over an area of 6 acres.
Sakthan Thampuran, erstwhile ruler
of Thrissur is buried in the palace
compound. Location
: Thrissur.
|
| |
|
|
Shri
Chitra Art Gallery
Masterpieces of Raja Ravi
Varma, illustrious artist
of Kerala are paraded in
a different section. His
works include a number of
portraits of Maharajahs
and members of royal family,
distinguished British residents
and prominent figures.
|
|
| |
A
browsing of the pictures would give
one a ballpark picture of who is
who of Kerala history.Antiques and
curios once owned by Travancore
royal lineage are showed at Sree
Chitra Art Gallery. Prized ones
are Bengali paintings, Rajasthani,
Mughal miniatures, Tanjavore paintings
and selected works of Svetosku Roerich,
a Russian artist.
Location
: Thiruvananthapuram. |
|
St. Francis Church,
Kochi
The first European Church
in India. Churches elsewhere
in the country were modeled
after this Portuguese construction.
A mute witness to the watershed
events in this coastal town,
for past five centuries.Vasco
De Gama, the legendary navigator
from Lisbon, died at Kochi
during his second voyage
to Kerala.
|
|
|
|
he was laid to
rest in the St. Francis Church on
Christmas eve 1524. Years later,
his mortal remains were taken back
to Portugal. The sepulcher is still
preserved in the church hall and
is open for visitors.
Location : Fort
Kochi, Eranakulam.
|
| |
Thalassery Fort
This coastal town as a whole is
a historical monument. The centuries-old
city is the cradle of Indian circus.
Leading circus artistes and circus
companies have roots in this city.
Gymnastics was introduced in schools
by German missionaries here.
Thalassery
Fort, stand testimony for the vantage
position the city enjoyed in the
battles between Britain and Tippu
Sulthan.
The
first Malayalam daily, Rajyasamacharam,
was published from Illikkunu, a
sleepy hamlet near Thalassery. Herman
Gundert, a German missionary was
instrumental behind it. His another
contribution for Malayalam language
was the first Malayalam Dictionary.
He also established a few educational
institutions, churches in Thalassery.
Location
: 20km. south of Kannur. |
| |
|
|
|
Town
Hall and Archaeological
Museum
Also known as Kollengodu
House, this majestic hall
accommodates picture gallery
with mural collections.
Location
: Thrissur. Open for visitors
from 10 am to 5 pm except
on holidays.
|
|
| |
Thrissur
Art Museum
Among art pieces and curios displayed
in the museum include wood carvings,
ancient jewellery pieces and figures
depicting Kathakali, the majestic
dance drama. Metal sculptures and
traditional Kerala lamps are also
shawcased.
Location : Thrissur,
2 km from town. |
|
Little Writers
