Information on Mattancherry Palace (Ernakulam, Kerala) - History & Architecture

Mattancherry Palace is located near the Kappalandimukku junction, Mattancherry, Cochin City, Ernakulum District of Kerala State in India. This palace is built by Portuguese in the early 16th century in the Mattancherry Island areas, surrounded by Vembanadu Kayal and the Arabian Sea. This palace is a protected ancient monument for its rich Kerala and colonial culture prevailed here from 1501 AD.

Mattancherry Palace Architecture

Mattancherry Palace is an Indo European architectural marvel. It is built in a quadrangular model, with the traditional practice of Nalukattu principals of construction prevailed in that time. The location chosen by them is an incredible example of vasthu sashtra. The raw material used here are the laterite stones, rock dust, clay tiles and the woods. This is a single storied structure with many doors and windows surrounded by it. The top of the building was covered with clay tiles, which gives it a traditional looks by its slanting downwards from the top of the roof on all sides in a pyramid model. On the inside there is a small worship place in the central court yard place. Here a mini temple was built for the Hindu clan's family. Its floors look like a well polished granite surface, but these are the traditional mix of red soil with charcoal, cow dung and egg shells grinded in to paste form and applied on its floor which solidifies very hardly with time. There are unique craftsmanship in wooden works on its furniture's, doors and windows. Its stairs were built of wood, including the ceilings of the floor. Its construction was supervised by the peoples. The local tribal peoples were the laborers and few skilled artisans were called from the Dravidian regions. This palace has many small and large rooms for accommodation purpose.

Mattancherry Palace History

Mattancherry Palace was built in the year 1555 AD by the Portuguese. This palace has a remarkable history for its construction here. On the advent of Portuguese in Kochi, they were engaged in few clashes with its local Kings. It is said that the Portuguese unknowingly damaged a Temple located here. They felt bad on harming religious conscience and built this fort for the Kochi King in lieu. The local clans lived here until it was seized by the Dutch's in the year 1663. In the mean time there were more than 50 wall paintings were done by the royal painter named Veera Kerala Verma, who made a theme of the Vedas in its walls. These paintings were made out of vegetable extracts and look so incredible. The entire story of the Ramayana is painted in 49 parts of the wall in a chronological manner. He also painted the many Hindu Ditties inside that it totally looked like a Hindu culture palace. It was from here the first trade of spices started to the European countries. This palace and its surroundings became an important commercial place in the history of time. This palace was under the Mysore region, when Hyder Ali was its ruler. In the 19th century the British took over all control of the Malabar States and kept it under its control, till the independence of India in 1947. This palace was renovated in the year 2009 and looks as it were in the olden days.

Mattancherry Palace Tourism Importance

Mattancherry Palace is an important landmark in the Mattachery Island, this is also known as the Dutch palace. This palace is now a museum maintained by its state government for catering tourism in Kochi. This is a place to see the colonial impact on the Cochin City. Many historic antiquities are preserved here for public viewing.