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  Life   More Features  03 Dec 2017  The palace of murals

The palace of murals

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Dec 3, 2017, 12:18 am IST
Updated : Dec 3, 2017, 12:18 am IST

The Dutch Palace is a fine blend of Kerala and colonial architecture styles.

History says the palace was built around 1545 AD by the Portuguese as a gift to King Veera Kerala Varma.
 History says the palace was built around 1545 AD by the Portuguese as a gift to King Veera Kerala Varma.

It stands at the beginning of Bazaar Road in Mattancherry, but, tucked away from the noise of the street. From the outside, the palace may look like another old traditional Kerala home. But, it is not solely built in Kerala style. It bears imprints of the Dutch culture and hence is called the Dutch Palace. It is, in fact, one of the finest examples of the blend of Kerala style of architecture and colonial influences. History says the palace was built around 1545 AD by the Portuguese as a gift to King Veera Kerala Varma. It got the name Dutch Palace as it underwent some repairs during the reign of the Dutch.

Its spacious halls and central courtyard, key features of Kerala architecture, make it a beautiful sight. It is also the home of Pazhayannur Bhagavathi, the home deity of the royal family. The palace houses Kerala murals, covering an area of 300 sq m, depicting great Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, besides gods like Guruvayoorappan. It also has works of the great poet Kalidasa. Other interesting exhibits are

life-size portraits of the members of the royal family, weapons they used and coins for transactions, which provide the visitor with an insight into their lifestyle.

Located 12 km from Ernakulam, the palace is open from 10 am to 7 pm on all days except Fridays. 

Tags: kerala, dutch palace