It
was built in 1568 AD, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, the copper plates
in which the grants of privilege made by the Kerala rulers Bhaskara Varma in
A.D 1000 and the exquisite Chinese hand painted tiles are of interest. The most
amazing factor in this creation is the different display of tiles in the synagogue
where no two tiles are alike and are two hundred years old. There are also several
finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons.
Location : Mattancherry, 10 km from Ernakulam.
Visiting hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Fridays.
Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of
Kochi, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. The palace with a Bhagavathi
temple in the central courtyard is built like the typical Kerala style mansion
- the Nalukettu - the home of the aristocracy, nobility and upper classes, with
four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard.
The double storeyed palace building which stands by the panoramic Kochi back
waters has an exquisite collection of murals collectively covering over 300
sqft of its walls. The themes of these murals have been borrowed from the great
Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha, and mythology and legends
about the Hindu gods especially Guruvayurappan. Some murals depict scenes from
Kumarasambhavam and other works of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa.Also on
display are royal paraphernalia like weapons, swings and furniture which offer
a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.
Getting there : There are frequent bus and boat services to Mattancherry.
The boats start from Main Boat Jetty near Subash Park at Ernakulam town.
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam, about 10 km
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam
town.
Mattancheri Palace
Kerala Monuments Reservation Form
