Very close to the richest temple in the world Sree Padmanaba Sway temple (the lord is the tutelary deity of the ruling Travancore royal family), there are many wonderful palaces and mansions in the fort area of Thiruvnanthapuram. The state government with a view to showcasing cultural richness and native architectural grandeur of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom during their heyday is seriously developing the fort area as a memorable tourist destination. By embarking on a prestigious and useful tourism promotion program called Travancore Heritage Tourism Project (THTP), the Kerala government has set an example to other Indian states where lots of monuments remain uncared for. The purpose of this project is to revitalize and rejuvenate palaces, mansions and temples in the fort area and at the same time to preserve them for posterity.. A sum of Rs 100 crore is allotted for conservation of old structures that will bring back the old glory and new charm to this cultural city. Besides covering as many as 19 building complexes, the project also includes old forts, etc. Krishnavilasam Palace, built in 1885, Sree Padam Kottaram (1880) situated toward the north of the temple, Sundaravilasam palace, Saraswathi vilasam Palace (19th century), Thevarathu Koikkal and Valiya Koikkal palaces (17th century) are some of the palaces worthy of mention. Though simplicity personified, their regal splendor and majesty will daze the visitors and take them back on a nostalgic trip to past era of power and and cultural ethos.
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| Saraswathy vilasam palace, Fort, TV Puram, Kerala. imalayalee.org |
Saraswathy (also spelled Saraswati) Vilasam palace built in the 19th century in the Fort area was once the residence of Kerala Kalidasan, Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran (1845-1914). This amazing palace is designed in colonial architectural style with intricately carved gable in the front, arched gate, cylindrical pillars, long verandah and high ceiling to cut down radiation from outside and to keep interiors cool,
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| Saraswathy Vilsam palace, Fort, Thiruvananthapuram. thehindu.com |
Historians are of the view that the design of Saraswathy Vilasam is more toward European style than native architecture that is commonly in tune with the terrain of Kerala's ghat area. It shows builders taste in European style of living. This two-story mansion has large stained glass windows of various hues and large doors. This kind of design actually accentuates the living space as a spacious one and imparts a positive mood of the residents. The provision of louvered doors for the windows and doors is yet another novel way to get the air circulation going in the interior part, as this place is a tropical one with high humidity. With shutters on the doors, one can control the sun light falling on the windows.
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| oval library room Saraswahy Vilasam palace,TV.puram.thehindu.com |
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| Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran haripadin. |
Above image: Valiya Koil Thampuran (19 February 1845 – 22 September 1914) fondly known as Kerala Varma or Kalidasa of Kerala was a Malayalam – language poet and translator in English and Sanskrit. Hailing from the royal family of erstwhile Parappanad, Malabar, he was born in Changanacherry at the Laxmipuram Palace. His mother was Pooram Nal Devi Amba Thampuratti while his father was Cheriyoor Mullapally Narayanan Namboothiri of Perinchelloor Gramam (Taliparamba) in Kannur District. When Tipu Sultan of Mysore invaded Kerala toward the end of the 18th century his family had fled Malabar and sought refuge in Travancore to avoid death or persecution. His literary works Mayoorasandesham on the line of Kalidasa’s MeghaDooth and Visakhavijaya was written after his release by Visakham Thiruna are quite popular. In 1914, as ill-luck would have it he died in a freak car accident.....................
Kerala Verma whose wife is Bharani Tirunal Lakshmi Bayi, the Rani of Travancore (wedding taken place in 1859) was a man of erudition and being inquisitive his pursuit of knowledge was overwhelming. For some political reasons and inevitable palace intrigues the then ruler Ayilyam Tirunal never maintained a cordial relationship with Kerala Verma and in 1875 , the ruler armed with regal power, confined him in the palaces in Alappuzha palace and then at Ananthapuram palace at Harippad. Only in 1880 Kerala Verma came back to Thiruvanthapauram after Visakam Tirunal Rama Varma reign (1880-1885) had become the Maharajah. So the exact date of construction of this mansion is a subject of debate among researchers. The palace has a separate space for library and study called Moon Beam’ , an octagonal room in the back of the palace, once used by Kerala Varma. It has a pillared walk way to access it. With fine stained glass windows, ornate cornice and pediments and oval opening the spacious room provided an ideal ambiance for the scholarly person to work and study.
This historical palace was sold to Hindi Prachar Sabha in 1989. Later the Anti-corruption Court functioned for 10 years - 1989-99. Being a heritage site, it is under the control of the State Archaeology Department.
