Monuments of Kerala

[netfree]

Fort Kochi, Ernakulam

LocationAbout 13 km from Ernakulam town. Welcome to a 6090 minute walking tour of the old streets of Fort Kochi. This is the ideal way to discover a historic town brimming with tales of myriad seafaring visitors who came here to trade and then stayed on to cease their work on this impressionable land. 'Walking through Fort Cochin' is a tour organised as part of the conservation and development initiatives taken up by the Corporation of Kochi. The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD 1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a landlocked region, turning it into one of the finest natural harbours in the world, with the sobriquet, the Queen of the Arabian sea. Kochi thus became a haven for seafaring visitors from all over the world and became the first European township in India when the Portuguese settled here in the 15th century. The Dutch wrested Fort Kochi from the Portuguese in AD 1663 and later in the last phase of the colonial saga, the British took over the town in 1795. During the 1660's, Fort Kochi peaked in stature as a prime commercial centre and its fame spread far and wide variously as a rich trade centre, a major military base, a vibrant cultural hub, a great ship building centre, a centre for Christianity and so on. Today, centuries later, the city is home to nearly thirteen communities. A few interesting sites included in the tour are the Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St.Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow etc. Apart from these architectural splendours, an array of restaurants serving fresh seafood are also popular among tourists. The Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles work on the principle of balance. Records say they were first set up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco Da Gama Square, the narrow promenade that parallels the beach, is the best place to watch the nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea. The Santa Cruz Basilica, a church built originally by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul 1V in 1558, was spared by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings. Later the British demolished the structure and Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984. Fort Kochi is also home to one of India's oldest churches St.Francis Church. This was a Roman Catholic church during the Portuguese rule from 1503 to 1663, then a Dutch Reformist Church from 1664 to 1804, and Anglican church from 1804 to 1947. Today it is governed by the Church of South India (CSI). Another important fact about the church is that Vasco Da Gama, who died in 1524, was buried here before his mortal remains were returned to Portugal 14 years later. Each and every structure, street, door, window and brick in Fort Kochi has several stories to tell. Getting thereFort Kochi is accessible by bus or ferry. The bus ride from Ernakulam town, which is nearly 13 km away, takes about an hour and the ferry ride from Main boat jetty at Ernakulam about 20 minutes.Nearest railway station : Ernakulam, about 1 1/2 km from the Main boat jetty.Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km.

[netfree]

Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, Wayanad

Location 12 km South of Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad district.Visiting hours10:00 am to 5:00 pm. AttractionsRare 2nd century artefacts. The Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, the archaeological museum in Wayanad, has one of Kerala's largest collections of the remnants of an era dating back to the 2nd century A.D. The exhibits here are evidences of an advanced civilisation that existed in the mountains of Wayanad. The articles on display are a fascination for the historian, the archaeologist and the ordinary man alike. At the museum you can see articles as varied as clay sculptures, ancient hunting equipments like bows and arrows, stone weapons and other curios. Getting thereSulthan Bathery, the nearest town, is about 98 km from Kozhikode city. There are frequent bus services between Sulthan Bathery and Kozhikode.Nearest railway station : Kozhikode, 97 km from Sulthan Bathery.Nearest airport : Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode about 120 km from Sulthan Bathery.

[netfree]

Edakkal Caves

LocationAbout 12 km from Sultan Bathery, Wayanad district Visiting Hours10:00 am to 5:00 pm.Situated in the Ambukuthi Hills, 10 km from Sultan Bathery in northern Kerala, the Edakkal caves are two natural rock formations. They are believed to have been formed by a large split in a huge rock. Inside, one finds ancient stone scripts, cave drawings and pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal figures with peculiar head dresses, the swastik a forms and symbols. Archaeologists consider these as one of the earliest centres of human habitation. Similar straight line cave drawings (considered 7000 years old) have been found only in Stiriya in the European Alps and a few rocky places in Africa. The drawings at Edakkal depict the human figures, stars, wheels, bows, knives, palm trees etc. Getting thereNearest railway station: Kozhikode, about 97 km from Sulthan BatheryNearest airport: Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode, about 23 kms from Kozhikode town.

[netfree]

Kuthiramalika

LocationAdjacent to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple at East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram.Visiting hours8.30 12.30 hrs. and 15.30 17.30 hrs. Closed on Mondays.Kuthiramalika which means Horse Bungalow takes its name from the roof beams which are carved to resemble the faces of horses. It has on display ornaments, personal effects and weapons of the former Kings the erstwhile princely State of Travancore. It is a true specimen of Kerala's classical architecture. The palace with its excellent carvings and amazing architectural designs is itself a piece of heritage. The museum housed in it has a wide range of exhibits representing the erstwhile Travancore royal household. This architectural delight was built during the reign of Swathi Thirunal (18131834 AD). Himself a musician and composer of eminence and a great contributor to Carnatic and Hindustani classical music he spent much of his time in this palace composing many of his musical pieces. He spent his last days in this rambling bungalow. Getting there Nearest railway station : Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 1 km.Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 6 km.

[netfree]

Napier Museum & Art Gallery, Thiruvananthapuram

LocationBoth Museum and Art Gallery are situated in the Napier Museum compound, right in the heart of the city, near the zoological park.Visiting HoursOpen from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Mondays and Wednesday forenoon.A visit to the Napier Museum complex reveals a glimpse of Kerala's rich cultural heritage. An exceptional piece of architecture, the Museum is named after the former Madras Governor General John Napier. The Napier Museum is also called the Government Art Museum. The Museum building is a combination of the Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles. Built by the 19th century British architect Chisholm, it has a unique natural airconditioning system. A veritable treasure house for connoisseurs of art, the intriguingly eclectic collection of bronzes, historic ornaments, ivory carvings and chariots, it is the pride of this place. The Sree Chitra Art Gallery features a rare collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma and Roerich among others, and fascinating works from the Mughal, Rajput and Tanjore schools of art. An oriental collection consisting of paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali offers a visual treat and are a tribute to the art and culture of these countries. Getting thereNearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 2 km.Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 6 km from the city.

[netfree]

Padmanabhapuram Palace

LocationIn Thuckalay, 64 km from Thiruvananthapuram, situated in Tamilnadu, a neighbouring State.Visiting hours9:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Mondays.A magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, Padmanabhapuram Palace lies at the land's end of mainland India. An enticing piece to any lover of art and architecture this old palace of the Rajas of the erstwhile Travancore (1550 to 1750 AD) is a fine specimen of Kerala's indigenous style of architecture. The antique interiors are replete with intricate rosewood carvings and sculptured decor. The palace also contains 17th and 18th century murals. One can see: the musical bow in mahogany, windows with coloured mica, royal chairs with Chinese carvings, 'Thaikkottaram' or the Queen Mother's palace with painted ceilings, rosewood and teak carved ceilings with 90 different floral designs. Durbar Hall with a shiny black floor specially made from a combination of egg white, jaggery, lime, burnt coconut, charcoal and river sand, granite tubs to cool curd and buttermilk, secret underground passages, the King's bedroom with a four poster medicinal bed, mural paintings, pictures of Lord Krishna, hanging brass lanterns lit continuously since the 18th century, hanging cage through which eagles tore criminals to death, open air swimming bath, the King's sister's dressing room, granite dance hall, Saraswathi (goddess of knowledge) temple, large earthen urns, room for scribes and accountants, carved figures on columns holding oil lamps, pooja (worship) rooms with jackfruit tree columns, fish carvings on the ceilings, enormous teak beams, Belgian mirrors and an outer cyclopean stone wall fitted together without mortar. The visitor is often overwhelmed by the royal splendour of erstwhile Travancore. Though the palace is situated in Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu State, it comes under the purview of the Government of Kerala's administration.

[netfree]

The Synagogue, Ernakulam district

Location The Synagogue at Fort Kochi, about 10 km from Ernakulam town, central Kerala.Opening hours 10:00 17:00 hours; closed on Fridays.The Synagogue at Fort Kochi, constructed in 1568, is the oldest in the Commonwealth. Destroyed in a shelling during the Portuguese raid in 1662, it was rebuilt two years later by the Dutch.Mid18th century, handpainted, willowpatterned floor tiles from Canton in China, a clock tower, Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs, great scrolls of the Old Testament, ancient scripts on copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the erstwhile Cochin rulers were recorded etc., are articles of interest here. The area around the Synagogue is a centre of spice trade and curio shops.Getting thereNearest railway station: Ernakulam, about 10 km from the Synagogue.Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 30 km from the Synagogue.

[netfree]

Hill Palace Museum, Thripunithura

Location10 km from Ernakulam town, Central Kerala. Visiting hours9.00 to 12.30 hrs. and 14.00 to 16.30 hrs on all days except Mondays. HighlightsKerala's first heritage museum. Royal collections of the erstwhile Maharaja of Kochi. The Hill Palace, the official residence of the Kochi royal family, is today the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style of Kerala, sprawling over 52 acres of beautifully landscaped terraced land which houses a deer park and facilities for horse riding. Numerous species of flora including rare medicinal plants grow here. On display in the fullfledged ethnoarchaeological museum are oilpaintings, murals, sculptures in stone and manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, belongings of the Kochi royal family and royal furniture including the simhasana (throne). Also exhibited are over 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from Japan and China, Kudakkallu (tomb stone), Thoppikkallu (hood stone), menhirs, granite, laterite memorials, rock cut weapons from the stone ages, wooden temple models, plaster cast models of objects from Mohanjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art. Getting thereNearest railway station: Ernakulam, about 10 km.Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 30 km.

[netfree]

Mud fort and Temples of Thrithala

LocationAbout 75 km from Palakkad on the banks of the Bharathappuzha, near Thrissur, Palakkad district, North Kerala. Thrithala is noted for its monuments and historic ruins and hence, has great archaeological importance. The ruins of a large mud fort with a deep moat hewn from laterite and the Siva temple are notable cultural monuments. The Kattil Madom Temple, a domed structure made of granite slabs, on the Pattambi Guruvayoor road is a Buddhist monument believed to date back to the 9th or 10th century. The temple probably marks the transition from the Chola to the Pandya style of architecture. The Paakkanaar memorial, a tribute to the Pariah saint, stands near the ThrithalaKoottanad road. This is also the native place of the renowned writer and social worker V. T. Bhattathiripad. Getting thereNearest railway station: Pattambi, about 19 km from Thrithala.Nearest airport: Coimbatore in the neighbouring State of Tamilnadu, about 55 km from Palakkad town

[netfree]

Forts of Thangasseri, Kollam

Location About 5 km from Kollam town. AttractionsRuins of Portuguese / Dutch forts and 18th century churches, a three km long beach and a century old lighthouse. Thangasseri, the picturesque seaside village has a three kilometre long beach on which stands a 144 feet tall lighthouse a silent sentinel warning seamen of treacherous reefs of the Thangasseri, since 1902. Thangasseri was once a favourite settlement of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English in succession, as Kollam was one of the oldest and most important port for international cashew trade on the Malabar coast. Today, it showcases a few ruined forts built by the Portuguese, and the Dutch and some 18th century churches. Getting thereNearest railway station : Kollam, about 5 km.Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 71 km towards the south, from Kollam town.