The first choice of Cultural Experience Seekers and Architecture Enthusiasts- The Krishnapuram Palace- is one of the outstanding Kerala-model architecture palaces with a peculiar structure called Pathinarukettu which is a network of 16 small blocks of buildings. Located near Kayamkulam in Alappuzha, it was built in the 18th century by the then king of the Travancore kingdom- Sri Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma. In miniature, it resembles Padmanabhapuram Palace, which was the headquarters of the Travancore Rajas. The palace which is now a historical museum maintained by the Archeology department is a creation that is full of antiquity contained in the gabled roof, corridors, and windows. Along with the antique visual treat, the palace is home to famous mural paintings as well as other artifacts that once were used by the royal family of the Travancore kingdom. One among them, the famous one titled “Gajendra Moksham”- which depicts Lord Vishnu coming down to Earth to save an elephant, the ardent devotee of the Lord- has a special place in the Kerala style paintings found across the state. It is believed that this mural painting which is 154 sq ft in size is the largest of its kind. Some other artifacts also, which include mainly the famous double-edged Kayamkulam Vaal (sword)- are on the showcase here providing an opportunity to explore the weapons of that age. Additionally, the palace museum also showcases a Sanskrit Bible, a few bronze statues, some stone inscriptions, rare megalithic specimens, Pancha-loha figurines, chivalric oil lamps, and ritual objects. Apart from the connections to the Travancore Royal Family, this grand palace has one more peculiarity- that one of the 4 statues of Budha- of the 10th century- found in Alappuzha was discovered and maintained here.
The palace complex originally enveloped 56 acres (23 ha) of total land which, over the years, got reduced to a mere 2.55 acres due to the demolishing that the palace confronted for years. Now the palace, which is there, is a replication of the original one restored into a three-storied monument by the Archaeological Department of Kerala in 1950. The museum has guides ready for visitors who want to be guided properly to get the most out of their visit. A provision for requesting guides is made possible at the entrance of the museum.
Visiting Hours:
09:30 to 16:30 hrs. Closed on Mondays and National Holidays.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kayamkulam Junction, about 8 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 103 km
Entrance Fee:
Adult Rs. 20.00 /-, Children (5-12 yrs) Rs. 05.00 /-
Still Camera Rs. 40.00 /-, Video Camera Rs. 400 /-
