Kuthiramalika Palace
Kuthiramalika, the Palace of Horses, greets its visitors with 122 horses smiling at the guests. Built by the Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma, the palace is a two-story building located near the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The palace was built in the 1840s and is made of rosewood, sandalwood, marble, and granite, which is an exemplary icon of the Kerala style of architecture.
Specialty Of Kuthiramalika Palace
The palace is also called Puthen Malika. The palace consists of 80 rooms, of which only 20 are open to visitors. The museum is a part of the palace and houses the assets owned by the Travancore royal family.
These include Belgian mirrors, life-sized Kathakali mannequins, paintings, chandeliers, furniture, Greek statues, armaments, and a musical tree that produces eight different sounds on tapping. The wooden staircase of the palace consists of spectacular paintings of peacocks, dragons, and elephants. The palace has on display two royal thrones, one of which is made of 24 elephant tusks and the other of which is made of Bohemian crystal.
Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma of Travancore gave the palace its construction in the nineteenth century. It accommodated notable guests and ceremonial gatherings in addition to acting as the Maharajas of Travancore's royal home. The distinctive style of Kuthiramalika Palace, with its 122 well-carved wooden pillars ornamented with various designs, is what makes it stand apart. These magnificent pillars showcase the rich cultural legacy of Kerala and are an impressive example of craftsmanship and attention to detail. The Travancore royal family's extensive collection of artefacts, paintings, sculptures, musical instruments, and royal memorabilia is on display in this palace, which doubles as a museum. Well-kept courtyards and gardens encircle the palace, providing visitors with a serene and picturesque setting in which to stroll and unwind amidst verdant foliage.
Nearby Places in Kuthiramalika Palace
Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple and the Vellayani Lake.
Best Time To Visit - Kuthiramalika Palace
The palace is closed on Mondays. It is open on all other days from 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
How to reach Kuthiramalika Palace ?
By Air : The nearest airport is the Trivandrum International Airport which is at a distance od about 6 kilometers.
By Train :The nearest railway station is Thiruvananthapuram Central, which is about a kilometre away.
By Road : The Kerala State government provides bus facilities from all parts of the State to Thiruvananthapuram which is the capital of the state.