Information on Nedumpuram Palace (Pathanamthitta, Kerala) - History & Architecture

Nedumpuram Palace is located in Tiruvalla Taluk, Pathanamthitta District in Kerala State of South India. It is a Vintage palace belonged to Kulasekhara dynasty and the Valluvanad royal clans resided here for a longer period of time. It is tourist destination in Thiruvalla with natural scenic beauty surrounded by this palace.

Nedumpuram Palace Architecture

Nedumpuram Palace is totally built in the ancient Kerala architectural style. This palace is built over a plain palm groove lands. It followed the principles of Kettu, which was a used in building dynamics. This palace was also built in the Pathinaru Kettu, which was again divided in to Nalu Kettu. Here kettu means Blocks. The four blocks accompanied the central court yard which was kept open and spacious. From here the passage for other blocks is extended, which are the residential rooms. This structure is a square block with single storied building. Most of these building blocks were built with laterite stones. The granite stones were used in its foundations for providing a strong base. The terra cotta tiles are used in its roofs with wooden support which are slanting from the top and have a triangular shaped dome like structure. The teak works are found largely. Its entire corridor had a small pillared support made of polished woods with carving works, which are very beautiful to see. The wooden works are also seen on the doors and windows; these are well carved with floral designs on it. The main beams of the roofs are supported with well polished teak woods. In side this palace a small temple is present for its family member to worship from here; these palace temples usually have the ditties of their family class of Gods. The most common seen structure with these temples is the Thulasi Thara. This small temple is also associated with a small Tulasi Thara, which is considered to be a holy herb kept inside the palace, will keep away from bad omens.

Nedumpuram Palace History

Nedumpuram Palace was built in the later parts of the 17th century. Initially this palace was the place for non aristocratic decedents, which as known as the Kovilagam, which means the residence of other relatives of the royal family. There are four such Kovilagam surrounded with this main palace called as the Thekan and the Vadaken kottaram, the other two are ruined now. These kovilagam were believed to be very olden days built. The Kulasekhara dynasty gets in to relationship with the Travancore family by marriages and got the Travancore patronage in the later part of these royal clans. In the Dravidian history this place comes under the Chera province and was very important in the north Malabar from 800 AD to 1102 AD. Its capital was located at Mahodayapuram and the region which they commanded their province were from the Udayamangalam area located here. They do have a good relationship with the Kochi rulers in terms of spice trade. This Nedumpuram place is visited by St.Thomas in the year 52 AD for the propagation of Christianity and the present Christian society was the converted peoples who were tribal Hindu peoples. . In 1788 it was under the Mysore Kingdom, the Mysore king the great Tippu Sultan was solely responsible to divide the North and the South Malabar. His influence is still celebrated as Mamagam festival here, which is organized yearly which lasts for a month.

Nedumpuram Palace Tourism Importance

Nedumpuram Palace is a heritage landmark in Thiruvalla. It is a 400 years old palace having the magnitude of Kerala architecture worth seeing. This is also a natural scenic place with a back drop of a large river behind this palace.