 |
| Chittoor Kottaram, Kerala .thrillophilia.com |
 |
| Chittoor Kottaram, Kerala cghearth.com |
 |
| Chittoor Kottaram/palace, cochin, Pinrest com. |
Unlike palaces in the northern states that are big and richly decorated with fine lighting, marble flooring, etc., palaces in the SW part of India have distinctive and unique style in harmony with the native landscape. Though simple looking, their artistic splendor and grandeur are quite impressive; equally eye-catching and awe-inspiring are the minute wood carvings that only experienced carpenters could handle. Kerala palaces don't boast of grand style with a few floors and projecting balconies or decorative chhatris, no large durbar hall and no stone decorations. Nor are they set in the midst of a huge garden with several water fountains, etc. The residences of few well-known monarchs of Kerala are made of high quality wood on a strong masonry basement and foundation.
It is not that the maharajahs of Kerala could not afford such big palatial mansions as those in the northern states with finest decorations and design to showcase their opulence and wealth. To the rulers of Kerala, the divinity or the family deity is the real ruler and they ruled the land in the name of lord. Hence they had limited army power to confront enemies. Royal residences or palaces were built mostly near water bodies to enjoy cool air and relax during the hot summer season.
 |
| .Chittoor palace(kottaram), Kochi, Kerala state. xmap.in |
 |
| Chittoor Kottaram, Kerala. indiamart.com |
Close to the Kochi main land on the bank of quiet backwater lies an impressive royal building with a sloping tiled roof called Chittoor palace or Chittoor kottaram, once the royal residence of the erstwhile Cochin maharajah. One of the oldest palaces in South India, it was for three centuries a silent spectator to the sharp turns and twists of historical and political events connected with the royal family. It is built in typical Kerala style architecture and the main construction material being wood - quality wood that is available in plenty in the local forests here.
The 18th century builder of this palace was an ardent devotee of Shree Krishna and he himself personally chose a place with a serene ambiance in a small village called Chittoor to build a temple dedicated to god. When the construction was on, it dawned on him to build a residence near the temple so that he and his family members could stay comfortably. The ruler had an entourage stationed there so that whenever he visited this place with his family they would be taken care of well by them. The residence is simplicity personified without compromising on regal look and elegance. Over a period of time Chittoor kottaram became a famous royal residence, now a legacy of the once famous Cochin Kingdom.
 |
| Chittoor Kottaram (palace0.thehindu.com |
 |
| Chittoor palace (Kottaram)cghearth.com |
In the 1960s after the abolition of privy purses to the princely rulers (whose kingdom merged with the Indian Union after independence) by the then Congress government at the center, the descendants of ex rulers with no doles (from the government) found it difficult to maintain the royal properties not taken over by the government. To supplement the lost income and to keep their properties in good shape, they began converting their palaces, big buildings, etc., into heritage hotels, particularly, in the states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc. This ingenious proposal has given them the needed income besides keeping the heritage structures in good condition. The Indian ex rulers' families, in the last two decades gave a new impetus to the hospitality industries in India. The Cochin princely family followed suit and converted this fine palace into a heritage hotel.
 |
| pond, Chittoor kottaram, Kochi. facebook.com |
 |
| Chittoor Kottaram, Kochi foodandtravelsecrets.com |
Royal hospitality is the hallmark of this hotel. Ride by special boat from mainland Kochi to the paddipura or portals of the hotel and services in the hotel here every thing has a regal touch that will take you on a nostalgic trip to the past era and taste the ethos of the 18th century Kerala.
In 2005 Chittoor Kottaram underwent restoration work and it was done mainly to strengthen the entire structure. This two-story 300 old palace was restored in March 2018 and it was done under the expert guidance of a 84 year old French lady Helen Hamlyn of the famous Helen Hamlyn Trust (HHT); she was singularly responsible
 |
| conservationist lady Helen Hamlyn thehindu.com |
for the recent restoration work. She carried out the conservation work without disturbing the essence of old flavor. She carefully retained the old pond by converting it into a modern pool, but retaining the old laterite stones with a concrete base. She just made a minor modification - a bit widening of the veranda that serves as a lounge. She specialized in the art of conservation of a variety of structures world over and had a good knowledge of intricate art preservation. Quite enchanting is sitting in the newly refurbished veranda facing the quiet backwaters
The palace set near a placid backwaters is a perfect getaway for people who want to be free from mundane existence and mad polluted urban spaces.
https://www.cghearth.com/chittoor-kottaram/aboutus
