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The Mattanchery Palace in Cochin, also referred as the Dutch Palace, is considered one of the oldest buildings built by the Portuguese in India. The imposing palace structure was erected by the Portuguese in the middle of the 16th century and presented to Vira Kerala Varma, the then ruler of Cochin. A century later, the Dutch made some extensive renovations to the original Mattanchery Palace building and thereafter, it also came to be called the Dutch Palace.
One of the most prominent tourist attractions of Kerala, Mattanchery Palace is located on Palace Road, Mattanchery, and is famous for housing some of the best mythological murals in India. These murals depict themes borrowed from Indian epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha and legends about Hindu gods especially Guruvayurappan.
The palace structure is a two-tiered quadrangular building comprising long and spacious halls. Mattanchery Palace was built in typical Kerala style, featuring four separate wings meant as the home of the nobility, opening out onto a central courtyard. The open courtyard houses the guardian deity of the royal family - "Pazhayannur Bhagwati".
The flooring at Mattanchery Palace is also evocative of the traditional Kerala style, wherein the floor appears to be polished black marble but is actually a mixture of burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices and egg whites.
The upper story features a coronation hall, a bed chamber known as Ramayana room, dining hall, assembly hall and the staircase. The bed chamber contains wall paintings depicting the entire story of Ramayana. There is a chamber midway between the first floor and the ground floor which functioned as the "harem" of the rulers.
The upper storey is built of teak wood beams and rafters and planks. The first floor, especially the coronation hall sports a unique ceiling adorned with some intricate carvings.
Visit Mattanchery Palace - the monument that will surely charm you no bounds with its architectural splendor and the insight into the lives of the erstwhile rulers provided through the weapons, swings, furniture, and other royal belongings on display here.
Visiting Hours: Everyday 10 am to 5 pm. (Except Fridays and National Holidays)
How to reach Mattanchery Palace
Nearest railway station: Ernakulam, about 10 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam.
There are frequent bus and boat services to Mattanchery.
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