Krishnapuram Palace: A Glimpse into Kerala’s Regal and Artistic Heritage
This is the most historically and architecturally interesting attraction in Kerala, where it was built at the beginning of the 18th century during the reign of Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the ruler of the erstwhile Travancore Kingdom. It represents the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Kerala. Thus, the tourist spot has become a monument of awe-inspiring creativity. Built in the traditional architectural elegance of Kerala, now it is a museum rather than a palace, and houses remarkable artifacts, complex rendered murals, and some relics describing the glorious past of the region.
Historical Significance
The graceful Krishnapuram Palace stands testament to the reign of Marthanda Varma, who put together all the then scattered pieces of the kingdom into one major unit that is Kerala. In its earlier times, the palace served as a royal abode and n administrative center at the same time. It is very strategically located to that extent from Kayamkulam (later divided as the present-day district of Alappuzha) and therefore was the seat of government-so to say. One of the finest examples of Keralan palace architecture, the royal splendor of Kerala is well-storied from the times of the Travancore rulers. Though it was at one point left abandoned and fell into disrepair, later it was taken over by the Archeology Department of Kerala in the 1950s and consequently restored to its historic and architectural significance.