Krishnapuram Palace

Coordinates: 9°9′0″N 76°30′31″E / 9.15000°N 76.50861°E / 9.15000; 76.50861
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Krishnapuram Palace
കൃഷ്ണപുരം കൊട്ടാരം
Angili
wood
SizeOriginally 56 acres (23 ha) now 2.55 acres (1.03 ha)
Design and construction
EngineerInitially by ramayyan Dalava later by Ayyappan Marthan da Pillai

The Krishnapuram Palace is a palace and museum located in

Krishnapuram.[1][2][3][4][5]

The palace is maintained by the Kerala State Department of Archaeology and contains exhibits that belonged to the Palace and its former occupant, the Travancore Maharaja Marthanda Varma. It is also famous for a large pond within the palace complex.[1] It is also said that an underground escape route runs from the bottom of the pond as a possible escape route from enemies.[2][5]

Among the many Kerala-style paintings seen in the palace, a distinctly placed mural painting is titled "Gajendra Moksham" of 154 square feet (14.3 m2) size, which is said to be the largest such find in Kerala. It is placed on the western end of the ground floor of the palace.[2][6]

The double edged

Buddha found in Alappuzha District.[7][8]

Geography

The Krishnapuram Palace named after the Krishnaswamy Temple at Krishnapuram, a serene village, is situated about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of Kayamkulam town... It is situated on the top of a small hillock encircled by terraced garden with fountains, ponds and lawns. Its location is to the left of the

Ochira and Kayamkulam in the Alapuzha District. It is 47 kilometres (29 mi) away from Alleppey (Alappuzha district) on the way to Kollam.[1][5][9][10]

History

The palace was built by

Archaeological Department of Kerala in modern style conforming to the scientific techniques prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings. As a protected monument, it houses the Archaeological Museum and its offices.[1][2][5]

Architecture

The Krishnapuram Palace, as one of the finest and rarest examples of a typical Keralite-style architecture, known in the local language as Pathinarukettu, is complete with gabled roofs, narrow corridors and dormer windows. It is a miniature replica of Padmanabhapuram Palace, which was the headquarters of Travancore Rajas.[1][2]

The palace complex originally encompassed a total land area of 56 acres (23 ha). However, over the years, as the monarchic rule ended, the palace was completely neglected and fell to disuse, and was dilapidated. Many of the buildings surrounding the main palace of the Maharaja got demolished or destroyed and the palace complex got reduced to a mere 2.55 acres (1.03 ha) enclosed within a 10 feet (3.0 m) high compound wall. The main palace, which was run down, was rebuilt to its original state as a two storied monument by the Archaeological Department of Kerala in the 1950s. The rare documents and artefacts which were kept at other locations were brought back, restored and eventually exhibited in the palace that has been converted into a Museum.[5]

The palace restored to its originally built plans, conforming to

Angili wood. Roofing (red-tiled gabled[11]) is steep and tiled with Mangalore tiles, which accentuates the beauty of the structure. A special feature of the carpentry adopted in building the palace consisted of wooden hinges and locks for doors and windows, instead of metallic fittings and fixtures. The flooring consists of polished wood and also of black and red oxide-coated concrete. The steps are made of polished granite blocks. Aesthetic beauty of the palace has been further enhanced by the special designs of straight, curved and spiral staircases and sunshades.[5]

A small stream was created to flow close to the southern vicinity of the palace which also functioned as a secret escape route in times of emergency.[5]

An underground tank or pond that stretches to the centre of the building was part of the palace; it provided air-conditioning effect of moderate temperature in all interior rooms.[5]

The palace compound has many Padippuras, particularly at the main entrance, which are significators of status.[5]

Collection

The palace complex, which now functions as an archaeological museum, is a treasure house of ancient paintings and inscriptions, coins, megalithic remains, artefacts made of wood, brass and stone sculptures. Some of the prominent displays in the complex are: The mural of Gajendra Moksham, Kayamkulam Val (sword), Buddha's statue of the 10th century and ceremonial utensils and many other artefacts.[1][2][6][8]

Gajendra Moksham
Mural of Gajendra Moksham.

Within the palace is the archaeological museum which has an exhibit of the

Gajendra." The theme of the mural is mythological and depicts an elephant saluting Lord Vishnu in devotion while the other minor Gods, Goddesses and saints look on. Lord Vishnu was the family deity of the Kayamkulam Kings. This mural, in a fusion of colours and expressions, was placed prominently at the entrance to the palace from the pond to enable the kings to worship the deity after their daily ablutions.[1][2][6][9][13]

The mythological legend narrated on the Gajendra Moksham (

Balakrishna, the child Krishna surrounded by doting females.[14]

Kayamkulam Vaal (Sword)
The Double edged sword – Kayamkulam Val

The Kayamkulam Vaal ('Vaal' means "sword") is an important exhibit in the museum. The significance of the sword is that its both sides are sharpened and thus it is more dangerous than any other martial weapon. It is said to have been used by the Kayamkulam Rajas in the 18th century and hence was of special attraction to the king.[1]

Buddha mandapam (hall)

Buddha mandapam (hall) is where an attractive statue of one of the four antique Buddhas of the 10th century, which were recovered in recent times in ponds and fields in Alappuzha district is displayed. The Buddha mandapam (Buddha statue installed here predates the building of the palace[11]) is located in the finely landscaped and tended garden with profusion of flower plants (endemic to Kerala) that surrounds the palace complex.[7][13]

The four Buddha statues found in recent years in the Alappuzha district testify the prevalence of

Hinayana Buddhism in Odanadu in the Maveli kingdom of Kerala several. The four Buddha images are in meditating posture with Ushnisha (cap) and Upavita (upper garment). These had been thrown into fields and ponds during the anti-Buddhism campaign in Kerala. The idol was found in a pool or tank called Puthenkula (Pond of Buddha) in Maruturkulangara in Karunagappalli
. This idol, cut out of a single piece of rock, was first installed in Karunagappalli town and after many years reinstalled in the compound of Krishnapuram Palace which is now a monument in the Buddha Mantapam. This idol has a skull cap adorned with lines of pearls or diamonds that represents the highest wisdom attained by Buddha.

Other exhibits
Calcutta
(Kolkata) in 1886, kept in the Palace museum

The museum in the Krishnapuram Palace also has a copy of the

Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1886.[10] Ceremonial utensils are also on display in a display case, which consists of oil lamps, fine miniature figures, and small stone columns carved with serpent deities (collected from various local houses). Some of these are arranged in an arc form known as prabhu and placed behind a temple deity to provide a "hallow of light". Fine miniature Panchaloha (five metals of bronze alloy with gold also as an ingredient) figures on display are of the Varuna (water god), many Vishnus and a minuscule devotee in worship mode.[7][14]

Postal Service

Anchal Post box at Krishnapuram Palace.

Travancore in 1729 by Anizham thirunal Marthandavarma and later in Cochin
in 1770s.

Gallery

  • The Durbar Hall in the palace
    The Durbar Hall in the palace
  • Plaque at the Krishnapuram Palace Complex
    Plaque at the Krishnapuram Palace Complex
  • Nair soldiers with European army – A wall-painting at Krishnapuram Palace
    Nair soldiers with European army – A wall-painting at Krishnapuram Palace
  • The backside of the Krishnapuram palace, with the pond in its foreground.
    The backside of the Krishnapuram palace, with the pond in its foreground.

Transport

Nearest KSRTC bus stations -

1. Kayamkulam (4km)

2. Oachira (4 km)

3. Karunagappalli (11 km)

Nearest railway stations -

1. Oachira (ocr) (4 km)

2. Kayamkulam (kyj) (5 km)

3.

Karunagappally
(kpy) (12 km),

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Krishnapuram Palace". Archaeology Department of Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g File:Gajendramoksham.jpg: Official plaque at the Palace Complex
  3. ^ "Krishnapuram Palace and Archeological Museum, Kayamkulam, Alappuzha (Alleppey) Kerala, India". alappuzhaonline.com. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Krishnapuram Palace Alappuzha". keralafreelisting.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "A monument from a glorious past". The Hindu. 21 October 2006. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b c Asok K. Bhattacharya; Śrīkumāra (1974). Citralakṣaṇa : a treatise on Indian painting. Saraswat Library. p. 23. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-81-7755-270-6
    . Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-81-7648-170-0
    . Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-81-904055-1-5
    . Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Krishnapuram Palace". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Krishnapuram Palace Museum – An Ancient Abode Of Kings". articlesnatch.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  12. ISBN 978-1-74104-165-1
    . Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Krishnapuram Palace Kayamkulam Kerala". naturemagics.com. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  14. ^
    ISBN 978-1-84353-103-6
    . Retrieved 20 March 2011.

9°9′0″N 76°30′31″E / 9.15000°N 76.50861°E / 9.15000; 76.50861

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Krishnapuram Palace.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Krishnapuram_Palace&oldid=1161215063"