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Puttan Malika Palace,
Kerala
The
Puttan Malika palace in the southeast of the temple, became
the seat of the Travancore raja's as Padmanabhapuram left
at the end of the nineteenth century. To generate funds for
much-needed restoration, the royal family have opened the
palace to the public for the first time in more than 200 years.
How
to reach there: The
long-distance KSRTC Thampanoor bus stand and railway station
face each other across Station Rd in the southeast of the
city, a short walk east of Overbridge Junction, where Thiruvananthapuram
is bisected by the long north-south MG Road.
Accomodations:
- South
Park.
-
Pankaj.
-
Luciya Continental.
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Fort Manor.
-
Jas Hotel.
-
KTDC Chaithram.
-
Horizon.
-
Highlands.
What to see:
- Although
much of it remains off-limits, you can wander around some
of the most impressive wings, which have been converted
into a museum.
- Cool
chambers, lined with delicately carved wooden screens and
highly polished plaster floors, house a crop of dusty Travancore
heirlooms.
- Among
the predictable array of portraits, royal regalia and weapons
are some genuine treasures, such as a solid crystal throne
given by the Dutch, and some fine murals.
- The
real highlight, however, is the typically understated, elegant
Keralan architecture.
-
Beneath sloping red tiled roofs, hundreds of wood pillars
carved into the forms of rampant horses prop up the eaves,
with airy verandahs projecting onto the surounding lawns.
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