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| Kuthiramalika Thiruvananthapuram en.wikipedia.org Image Credit.Dinakar |
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| Kuthiramalika en.wikipedia.org Image Credit.Dinakar |
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| Kuthira Malika Palace ,Tiruvananthapuram. Alamy |
Above image: Official name Puthen Malika (new Mansion), popularly known as Kuthira Malika because it has 122 wooden horse brackets that support the southern roof. The official name is not being frequently used by the people. Constructed by Maharaja Swathy Thirunal in 1844......... .
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| Horsebrackets, Kuthiramalika Thiruvananthapuram inboundtrip.com |
Above image: Kuthiramalika Palace, Thiruvananthapuram – close to Shree Padmanaba Swamy temple the wooden carved horses will impress the visitors to this palatial palace built in native style........
Kuthiramalika, meaning “Mansion of Horses”, is an amazing 19th-century royal palace located adjacent to the popular Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Commissioned by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, the visionary and music centric Maharaja of Travancore, in the early 1840s, the palace is a glowing tribute to Kerala’s traditional architecture, craftsmanship, and cultural ethos. It derives its name from the 122 carved wooden horses that embellish the supporting brackets of the southern roof, giving the impression of galloping motion and majesty.
Also called Puthen Malika or “New Mansion,” the palace was left largely uninhabited after Swathi Thirunal’s untimely death in 1846. Built over four years by 5,000 skilled Vishwakarma artisans, it reflects the finest elements of Travancore-style architecture. Characterized by sloping tile roofs, pillared verandahs, ornate gabled windows, and enclosed courtyards, the palace seamlessly merges aesthetics with climatic suitability. Constructed from teakwood, rosewood, granite, and marble, the palace also features floors made from an unusual blend of egg white, charcoal, and lime, which keeps the rooms naturally cool.
Puthen Malika is an elongated building facing south with three facades. The building, with a floor area of 15000 square feet consists of about 80 rooms and among the 80 rooms, 20 are open to the public, each showcasing distinct ceiling patterns, floral carvings, and exquisitely detailed woodwork. Unlike many palaces, Kuthira Malika offers a rare glimpse into the artistic and cultural sensibilities of the Travancore royals. The concert hall Navarathri Mandapam in the front part of the palace within the premises is a unique with acoustics enhanced with 50 inverted clay pots suspended from the ceiling—an ingenious sound amplification method using traditional sound reflectors. The effect is so unique that it surpasses the modern sound system.
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| Fine interior Kuthira Malika Palace ,Tiruvananthapuram.Flick |
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| Ornate carved wooden ceiling.Kuthiramalika,Alamy.com |
Fascinating classical architectural elements include: verandas, aisles, wooden staircases, small courtyards, wooden seats, a wooden ceiling with intricate carvings, bracket figures, gables, wooden pillars, a wooden mandapa, granite toilets, a tiled roof, and traditionally treated floors.
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| Captivating Kuthira Malika,Alamy.com |
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| Kuthira Malika Palace, hitvm.in |
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| Kuthira Malika Palace, Tiruvanthapuram Alam |
The Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, opened in 1995, displays rare treasures such as the Dantasimhasana (ivory throne) made from 24 elephant tusks, a Bohemian crystal throne, rare European mirrors, oil paintings, musical instruments, Greek statues, and a unique musical tree that emits different tones when tapped. A notable attraction is the illusion portrait of Sree Chithira Thirunal, painted by Russian artist Svetoslav Roerich, whose eyes and shoes follow viewers across the room. The many features throw light on the pool of talents available in this regions - painting artists, artisans, wood workers etc., in the past era.
Recent Conservation Efforts:
The Kerala State Archaeology Department, along with the Travancore Royal Family Trust, has undertaken periodic restoration focusing on roof conservation, termite treatment, and waterproofing of wooden elements. Plans are underway to open more rooms and enhance visitor amenities while strictly preserving the palace's historical and architectural integrity. Kuthiramalika remains not just a monument but a living symbol of Kerala’s regal and cultural past.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuthiramalika
https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/kuthiramalika-palace-east-fort/58
http://www.navrangindia.in/2017/03/captivating-kuthira-malika-palace-of.html
https://medium.com/the-daily-cuppa/kuthiramalika-palace-fd8a3ad06da7
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