Explore The Wooden Palace In Padmanabhapuram

On this half-day trip from Thiruvananthapuram visit Padmanabhapuram Palace, the largest wooden palace of Asia. The palace dates back to the 16th century and was the seat of the Hindu rulers of Travancore. The beautiful interiors made of rosewood and teak and the furniture and other relics on display are one of a kind. The palace is situated in the foothills of Veli Hills with the River Valli flowing nearby.

Highlights
• King’s Council Chamber
• Queen Mother’s Palace
• Polished black granite floors
• Intricately carved rosewood ceilings
• Medicinal bed

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning for the 2-hour drive to the town of Thuckalay that is about 40 miles from Thiruvananthapuram. The Padmanabhapuram Palace is about 15 minutes drive from Thuckalay.

Built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture with huge courtyards, corridors and gabled roofs, the palace complex has 14 well preserved buildings that were added over a period of time. The ceilings of the palace are made of intricately carved rosewood. Massive polished teak beams run across the rooms. Even today the black granite floors have a mirror-like finish. Lime mixed with egg white and other secret ingredients was used to polish the floors. The palace walls are covered with beautiful murals that date back to the 17th and 18th century.

Visit the King’s Council Chamber and the Queen Mother’s palace with its painted ceiling, by far the two best halls of this large palace complex. You will also see a musical bow of mahogany, windows of colored mica, royal chairs with intricate carvings brought from the Far East and hanging brass lanterns. The palace has a stone bed that remains cool in the summer. Another wooden bed is made of 65 different kinds of herbs and is believed to have medicinal properties.

There is also a museum on the grounds of the palace complex. The museum has pieces of furniture, wooden and stone statues, coins, weapons and utensils on display.

At the end of the tour, enjoy lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant.

After lunch you will be driven back to Thiruvananthapuram and dropped off at your hotel.