Krishnapuram
Palace, Kayamkulam
Location : Kayamkulam, 47 km from Alappuzha.
Visiting hours : 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on all days except Mondays.

The Krishnapuram Palace is a rare specimen of the
Kerala style of architecture - complete with gabled roofs, narrow
corridors and dormer windows. Residence of the rulers of Kayamkulam
kingdom, the age of the palace is unknown.
Renovated some time in the 18th century, the palace is today a
protected monument under the Archaeology department. Recently it
has been again renovated according to the scientific techniques
prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings.
Today the palace is an archaeological museum, and the most fascinating
exhibit here is the 49 sq.m - Gajendra Moksham - the largest single
band of mural painting so far discovered in Kerala. Literally, the
salvation ( Moksha) of the elephant king ( Gajendra), the theme
of the mural is mythological and depicts an elephant saluting Lord
Vishnu in devotion while the other gods, goddesses and saints look
on. It is said that Lord Vishnu was the family deity of the Kayamkulam
rajas. This mural was placed at the entrance to the palace from
the pond to enable the rajas to worship the deity after their bath.
Other attractions here are the beautifully landscaped garden in
the palace compound where you have a variety of flora typical of
Kerala, and a newly erected Buddha mandapam, where a recently recovered
statue of the Buddha is housed. Other collections at the museum
include rare antique bronze sculptures and paintings.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kollam about 39 km
Nearest airports : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about
103 km; Cochin International Airport, about 132 km
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