Description

The Krishnapuram Palace is a palace and museum located 47km from Alappuzha at Krishnapuram in Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district, Kerala.  The Palace was built during the period of Anizham Thirunal Martanda Varma (1729-1758 AD, 904-933 ME) after the annexation of Kayamkulam to the erstwhile State of Travancore The Palace is noted for its characteristic style of Kerala Architecture such as the gabled roofs, narrow corridors, dormer windows, pent roofs and so on. It also houses one of the largest single panel Mural paintings so far discovered in Kerala known as "Gajendra Moksha", which measures 53 sq.ft in area. An Archaeological museum is set up in the Palace in which stone and wood sculptures, bronzes, copies of Mural paintings, coins, megalithic remains, stone inscription and such historically and archaeologically important objects are preserved and protected. The Hill Palace is situated on the top of a small hill surrounded by a terraced garden with fountains, ponds, and lawns. The Hill Palace is a Palace Complex. The oldest building in it is the one constructed around 1850 AD a single-storeyed Ettukettu, built in the traditional style with an adjacent pond, temple, and urappura. All the other buildings are a combination of traditional and western Architecture. The latest building in the complex was constructed in western style. in the 1950s and this three-storeyed building houses the office. the palace is today a protected monument under the Archaeology Department. Recently it was again renovated according to the scientific techniques prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings. One can come across many rare antiques and paintings when exploring this beautiful palace.

Archaeological Museum 

Krishnapuram palace itself is a site museum as it acclaims an age-old tradition and antiquity. An Archaeological Museum is functioning inside this palace. Antique objects excavated by the Department of Archaeology and the exhibits brought about from the other regions are also housed in this museum.  The idols and vessels made of bronze collected from Annamalanatharu temple, Thodupuzha, Idukki district are the auspicious exhibits there. Images made of bronze and wood; potteries excavated from different sites, traditional weighing apparatus, stone sculptures, swords, coins, etc. exhibited there are noteworthy.

The precious antique objects, housed in the Archaeological Museum include, 

• Mirror made of bronze and Prabha used in the temples of central Travancore
• The bronze idol of Varuna on Makara Matsya holding pasa (thread) of 1900 C.E, the idol of Venugopala (Krishna with cow),  the idol of Mahavishnu 1800-1900 AD, idol of Lakshmi Narayana 
• The shield used by Raja Kesavadasa, famous Divan of Travancore.
• The model of Thiruvegappura temple, near Pattambi, in the District of Palakkad, made of wood
• Anchhal petti, the old metallic post - box used in Travancore.
• Kayamkulam val (special sword)
• Silver sword of Sri Vishakham Thirunal
• The handcuffs and Bullets made out of metal and stone.
• The Holy Bible in Sanskrit Script (1886)
• Stone images of Nagar, Saptamatrikkal, Bhadrakali
• Weight measuring devices prevailed in Travancore like 'Rathal,' Thola and other measuring vessels.
• The stone image of Buddha obtained from Karunagappally housed in a separate mandapa arranged in the garden in front of the palace.
• The beautiful image of Mahavishnu collected from the ruined temple at Thirunarayanapuram near Neyyattinkara in the District of Thiruvananthapuram.
• Copies of murals of Vadakkumnatha temple (Thrissur), Mattancherry Palace (Ernakulam), Kanjur Church (Ernakulam) and Vallam church (Thrissur)
• The antique objects excavated from Mohanjo-Daro and Harappa and other precious objects excavated by the state Department of Archaeology like urn burials, black and red potteries etc.
• The models of megalithic relics found in Kerala like Dolmenoid cists, capstone flush, cairn circles, umbrella stones, hood stones, etc.

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