PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE

Built of wood in the 16th century, Padmanabhapuram Palace is an architectural masterpiece. The palace was constructed by Ravipillai Perumal of the Travancore dynasty and served as the official seat of the Travancore Kings. The name of the palace is derived from the lotus “Padma” which emerged out of Lord Vishnu’s navel.

The palace is considered as one of the best historical places to see in Kanyakumari. The palace has many intricate carvings of wood from teak and rosewood. Earthen lamps and urns, ancient murals, intricate sculptures on the walls, ornate Belgian mirrors, musical bows, and unique painted ceilings enhance the historical significance and marvel of the palace.

The Durbar Hall is one of the key attractions inside the palace with its black shining floor and artistic carvings on the walls. The other places of interest inside the palace are the open air shower rooms, exotic paintings of Lord Krishna, brass lanterns and a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.

Location: The palace is situated at Thuckalay, near Kanyakumari.

Entry Fee: The entry fee is INR 10 for adults and INR 2 for children. There are separate charges for a still camera which is INR 25 and a video camera is INR 1200.

Timings: The palace is open on all days except Monday, the timings being 9:00 AM till 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM till 4:30 PM.