Padmanabhapuram Palace:

Padmanabhapuram Palace, a historic palace with captivating architecture, is a shining example of artistic and workmanship perfection. This timber palace, constructed in the 16th century, is sure to captivate every visitor with its unsurpassed splendor. Ravipillai Ravivarma Kulasekhara Perumal of the Travancore Kingdom built this palace at the foothills of the Veli Hills, which are part of the Western Ghats in Thuckalay.

Padmanabhapuram Palace, named after the lotus that emerges from Lord Vishnu's navel (Padma meaning lotus, nabha-navel, puram-town), served as the center of power for the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore from the 16th to the late 18th century until being relocated to Thiruvananthapuram. This intriguing location with stunning architecture is a must-see when on a Kanyakumari trip.

Although this palace is located in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, it is administered by the Kerala Archaeological Department.
Architecture of Padmanabhapuram Palace in Kanyakumari

Padmanabhapuram Palace's beautiful carvings and fine finishing continue to amaze all visitors. The interior of the palace is really stunning. Detailed rosewood and teak wood carvings, carved columns carrying oil lamps, massive clay urns and jackfruit tree columns, colorful mica on the windows, Chinese carvings on royal chairs, 17th and 18th century murals, Belgian mirrors, and elaborate paintings on the ceilings will astound you.

Every component of the palace, including dance halls, museums, council chambers, dining halls, Queen Mother Palace, inner courtyards, and the King's apartment, has a creative interior with excellent art works.
The palace's primary entrance is on the west side, which is accessible after going through a wide courtyard. The most beautiful section of the palace is the council room, known as Manthrasala, which has colorful mica windows and floors with excellent workmanship. Its floor, which has a shimmering brilliance, is constructed from a unique blend of egg white, lime, coconut, charcoal, river sand, jaggery, and other ingredients.
The Queen's Mother Palace, or Thai kottaram, is another significant feature of the Padmanabhapuram Palace. It is also the palace's oldest structure, dating back to 1550. Built in the Kerala style of architecture, its painted and carved ceilings feature floral motifs of over 90 different types. It also features an inner courtyard called 'nalukettu' and a small chamber known as ekantha mandapam.
The audience hall of the palace, which is the palace's newest addition, was built between 1829 and 1846. The palace's dining hall can accommodate around 1000 people. In addition, there is a hidden passage in the palace that was built to transport royals to a palace 2 kilometers away in the event of an assault.

A four-story edifice stands at the center of the palace complex. The first story of this edifice houses the King's room, while the bottom floor stores the royal treasury. The King's bedroom features a four-poster medical bed. It is supposed to be constructed with 64 distinct types of wood that have therapeutic characteristics. The fourth story of the temple, known as Upparikka Malika, contains a meditation hall and a royal shrine; the walls are covered with 18th-century murals and scenes from the Puranas.
The Southern Palace, also known as Thekee Kottaram, includes an archaeological museum in the palace's first courtyard that displays a diverse collection of antiquities, furniture, coins, old armaments, granite and wooden sculptures, copper plates with inscriptions, and more.