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Kuthiramalika is a palace that was built by Swati Thirunal Rama Verma. It is present on the eastern side of the Padamanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram. Being one of the major points of interest in Travindrum, this intricate palace is visited by the travel-enthusiasts from all over the world
The Historical and Etymological Importance :
There are several reasons why one should visit the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum - Trivandrum. After all the place is named after 122 horses, which are carved on the wooden wall brackets of the southern side. Huh! This is for the support of the roof. The original name of the place was Puthen Malika, which means a new mansion. This serves as one of the parts of the royal structure in the vicinity of Padamanabhaswamy Temple. The palace was left unoccupied for more than a century after the demise of its owner, Swati Thirunal Rama Verma.
The Architectural Beauty:
This palace was built in gear 1840 and had the true essence of Kerala architecture. It has overhanging eaves, sloping roofs, enclosed courtyards, and pillared verandahs. There are wooden carvings on the wooden ceilings in each and every room. Each pattern is different from each other this the rooms look different and beautiful because of these.
The construction took four years to complete, and 5000 Vishwabrahmin constructed it. The place is made up of metal, graphite, teak wood, and rosewood. Forty-two beams are used to support the craved ceilings. The roof is supported by the pillars made of graphite. The ceilings of the verandah are dotted with floral motifs. In total there are 80 rooms among which the main sixteen is craved in different styles. 20 rooms were opened for the visitors in the year 1995. The floor of the palace is made up of charcoal, eggs, whites, and limestone which make the place cold even under the hot climatic conditions.
The concert Venue that is built inside the museum uses natural sound reflectors to reflect the sound. Near about 50 pots are hanged upside down on the ceilings to reflect the tone.
Best time to visit the place:
You are free to visit the museum throughout the year. You can visit the place especially at the time when the yearly musical festival takes place. Several classical singers come to perform here. Make sure that you don't pay a visit to this place on Monday, as it is a weekly off. The timings are from 8:30 am to 13:00 pm and again from 15:00 pm to 17:00 pm.
Interesting facts and trivia about the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum Trivandrum :
It has several points of interests apart from the architecture. Only a small portion of this place is turned into a museum. Although there are 80 rooms inside the palace only 20 rooms are for the visitors who visit the place. You also get a guided tour inside the palace. The palace has 14 life-size Mannequins of Kathakali, Italian and Belgian mirrors, chandeliers made of crystal, paintings, Greek statues, musical instruments, and a musical tree that produces 8 tapping sounds along with other artifacts.
On the first floor, you get an alcove which was used for meditation and a library. The place also offers a view of Padamanabhaswamy temple. The small wooden stairs have carvings dragon, peacock and elephant. The ceilings also contain paintings of parrot, elephant, and peacock in it.
