Situated at the heart of the town- Built in 1766 by Hyder Ali of Mysore Palakkad Fort, situated in the town close to Fort Maidan, is the best-preserved fort today in Kerala. It was constructed in 1766 by Hyder Ali of Mysore. For him, it served as an advance post for securing his communications with Coimbatore and the West Coast. this Fort, popularly known as Tippu's Fort, is one of the protected monuments in Palakkad town. It is square in shape, with walls of immense thickness and with strong bastions at all four corners and in the middle. The old draw bridge has since been replaced by a permanent one.       [top]

Situated 2 kms from the Thiruvilwamala Temple, this Guha is a natural tunnel in the rocky cliff. A myth - crawling through the tunnel from one end to other will wash one's sin's away. Only men are allowed to do the Noozhal. The narrow tunnel is about 15 mtrs long. It is believed that performing "Noozhal" or crawling through the tunnel from one end to the other will wash away all of one's sins and thus one attains rebirth. Only men are allowed to do the Noozhal, but women can visit the cave. This ritual is practiced only one day in a year - on Guruvayoor Ekadasi.       [top]

This temple, a sprawling complex with a magnificient seven storied tower, houses the idol of Lord Vishnu in the form of Ananthapadmanabha( the Lord who upheld creation on a lotus which sprang forth from his navel). The 6m image, partly covered with gold and embellished with precious stones is viewed in three sections through three doors. Historical records show that in 1750, the Maharaja of Travancore on being victorious in a battle, laid down his sword and offered himself to this temple's deity. Since then, all his successors have ruled the land as Padmanabhadasas(servants of Padmanabha). Arattu is an important festival here.       [top]

Krishnapuram Palace built by Marthanda Varma. This palace at Karthikaplly in Kayamkulam is famous for its mural depicting the story of Gajendramoksham. Dating back to the 18th century, this exquisite piece of art is one of the larges murals in Kerala. The palace museum houses antique sculptures, paintings and bronzes. Renovated some time in the 18th century, the palace is today a protected monument under the Archaeology department. Recently it has been again renovated according to the scientific techniques prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings. Today the palace is an archaeological museum, and the most fascinating exhibit here is the 49 sq.m - Gajendra Moksham - the largest single band of mural painting so far discovered in Kerala. Literally, the salvation ( Moksha) of the elephant king ( Gajendra), the theme of the mural is mythological and depicts an elephant saluting Lord Vishnu in devotion while the other gods, goddesses and saints look on. It is said that Lord Vishnu was the family deity of the Kayamkulam rajas. This mural was placed at the entrance to the palace from the pond to enable the rajas to worship the deity after their bath.       [top]

Constructed in the typical Kerala architectural style, this temple is famous all over India, and is renowned for the Palpayasam, the daily offering of sweet milk porridge. This temple witnesses the performance of Pallipana by Velans (sorcerers) once every twelve years. Paintings of the Dasavatharam (the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) are displayed on the inner walls of the temple. The ‘ Ottanthullal’, a satiric art form based on social themes was the brain child of the poet Kunchan Nambiar who performed it for the first time in the premises of this temple.       [top]

The Kanakakunnu Palace, situated near the Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the last vestiges of the colonial era. Kanakakunnu Palace is a testimony to grand times and the resort of kings. This palace was constructed during the reign of His Highness Sree Moolam Thirunal. Swati Tirunal, one of the most popular rulers, of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore, modified the palace and constructed tennis courts in the palace premises. He once used it as a summer retreat. This stunning piece of architectural excellence was used by the Travancore royal family to entertain their guests in the earlier days. The interiors are decorated with large crystal chandeliers and exquisite pieces of royal furniture.       [top]

Fort St. Angelos was constructed to the West of Kannoor town. It was built in 1505 by the first Portuguese Viceroy, Don Francisco De Almeida, with the permission of the Kolathiris, on the promonotory jutting into the Lakshadweep sea. The Dutch captured the fort in 1663 and sold it to the Ali Raja of Kannoor in 1772 and in 1790 it came into the possession of the British. The British rebuilt it and made it their most important station in Malabar. This fort is in a fairly good state of preservation, though parts of it have collapsed. A few ancient cannons are on display inside the fort. The fort is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.       [top]

Jain Temple of Jainimedu is situated on the western suburbs of Palakkad town, not far from the railway station, this historic 32 feet long, 20 feet wide granite temple displays images of the Jain Thirthankaras and Yakshinis. The region around the temple, known as Jainimedu, is one of the few laces in Kerala where the vestiges of Jainism have survived. It is at a Jain house here that poet Kumaranasan wrote his monumental poet Veenapoovu (The fallen flower).       [top]

The Vishwanatha Swamy shrine, the oldest Shiva temple is situated 3 kms from Palakkad. The annual chariot temple is a gala event. The annual 'Ratholsavam' or Chariot Festival at Sree Viswanantha Swamy temple lasts for seven days. On the last three days, beautifully decorated temple chariots are ceremoniously drawn through the streets by thousands of devotees whose soul stirring chants rent the air. The festival is dominated by three magnificent chariots, bedecked with flowers and flags, each sanctified by the presence of the lord. Tamples Teeming crowds of people and millions of hands try to reach out to be one of the privileged to have the honour of pulling the chariots, as they proceed in stately grandeur.       [top]

The British arrived in Thalassery in 1683 and erected a trading shed there. They shifted their commercial capital to Thalassery from Kozhikode following obstruction from the Dutch. In 1700, the British built the Thalassery fort on a small hill called Tiruvellapadakunnu and in 1708 strengthened it by increasing its height and additing bastions. The fort is a square structure built of laterite and is distinguished by its massive ventilated walls and strong flanking bastions. It was here that Haider's captain was imprisoned. The famous St. John's Anglican church is behind this fort       [top]

Located 55 km away from Thiruvananthapuram on the highway to Nagarcoil-Kanyakumari, Padmanabhapuram was once the seat of the rulers of old Travancore or Venad State from the16th to the late 18th centuries. The name refers to the image of the lotus coming from the navel of Vishnu (Padma - lotus, nabha - navel, Puram - Town). The palace complex was constructed around 1601 A.D by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Travancore between 1592 A.D. and 1609 A.D. (767 M.E and 784 M.E). The construction of the Perumal palace at the centre of the complex was completed in 1744 A.D. On the day of its completion, Maharaja Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma, dedicated this palace to Lord Padmanabha and named the palace Sri Padmanabha Perumal Palace. From then on the fort and the surroundings earlier known as Kalkulam came to be known as Padmanabhapuram.       [top]

Two caves are located at a height of 1000 m on Ambukutty Mala near Ambalavayal. The New Stone Age pictorical writings on the walls of these natural caves at Edakkal are evidence of the civilisation that existed in these regions in prehistorical times. The caves can be accessed only by a 1 km trekking trial from Edakkal. Morning hours are the best time to visit the caves. Entry is permitted only up to 1700 hrs. The writings and carving on the walls of Edakkal rocks are very rare and historians testify that it is the only one in its kind in all south india where there was the presence of stone age man. 'Edakkal Caves'at Ambukuthy near Ambalavayal is belived to be the abode of Neolithic man. The Edakkal cave site is on an ancient route connecting the high rangs of Mysore to the ports of Malabar.       [top]

It is also known as Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Kochi in 1555 A.D. It acquired the present name after 1663 when the Dutch carried out extensions and repairs in the palace. It is interesting to note that at no time did the Portuguese or Dutch actually stay here. Its interiors are decorated with murals from the Ramayana and there are some lively displays of royal costumes and palanquins. Mattancherry Palace was presented to the raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Varma (1537-61), as a gesture of goodwill (and probably as a means of securing trading privileges). The Dutch renovated the palace in 1663, hence its alternative name, the Dutch Palace. The two storey quadrangular building surrounds a courtyard containing a Hindu Temple. The central hall on the 1st floor was the coronation hall of the rajas. The astonishing murals, depicting scene from the Ramayana, Mahabharta and Puranic legends, are one of the wonders of India. The ladies' bedchamber downstairs features a cheerful Krishna using his six hands and two feet to engage in foreplay with eight happy milkmaids.       [top]

Situated In MATTANCHERRY the Synagogue was built in 1568 AD. The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament, the copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the Kochi rulers were recorded and the exquisite Chinese hand-painted tiles are of interest. The Jewish community of Cochin (Kochi) Kerela, India dominated the trade in spices from South India to the Middle East and Europe long before the Portuguese arrived in India in 1498. Many Portuguese Jews arrived in India in the early sixteenth century. After the Portuguese captured the settlement of Cranganore in 1523, the Jews fled to Cochin where they were joined by Jews from Goa fleeing the inquisition. In 1568 the Jews built the Paradesi Synagogue.       [top]

One of the oldest existing Palace built by the Dutch in India, Bolghatty Palace is located in the scenic island popularly known as Bolgatty island in Kochi, Kerala. In 1744AD, Dutch traders built this villa and it was later extended and lush green gardens were landscaped around it. The building was then the Governor's palace for the Dutch and later in 1909 was leased to the British. It served as the home of the British Governors, the seat of the British Resident of Cochin during the British regime. In 1947, when India got her independence, the palace became the property of the state and later converted into a heritage hotel resort and is now run by the KTDC (Kerala Tourism Development Corporatio       [top]

The Hill Palace, the official residence of the Kochi royal family, is today the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. Built in 1865, the Palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style of Kerala, sprawled over 52 acres of beautifully landscaped terraced land which houses a deer park and facilities for horse riding. Numerous species of flora including rare medicinal plants grow here. In the Ethno - Archaeological Museum are oil-paintings, murals, sculptures in stone and manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, belongings of the Kochi royal family and royal furniture including the simhasana (throne). Also exhibited are over 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from Japan and China. Kudakkallu (tomb stone), Thoppikkallu (hood stone), menhirs, granite, laterite memorials, rock cut weapons from the stone ages, wooden temple models, plaster cast models of objects from Mohanjadaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art.       [top]

Vasco House sports the typical European glass paned windows and balcony cum verandahs characteristic of the times. Believed to have been the residence of Vasco da Gama. Chinese traders from the court of Kublai Khan are believed to have introduced these huge cantilevered fishing nets in the late14th century. The nets are built of teak wood and bamboo poles. They can best be seen at sunset, on the north end of the promontory, a few metres from Fort Kochi. The Bishops House a prominent heritage of Fort Kochi, it is characterised by large arches in Gothic Style and has circular garden path winding up to the main entrance. The Indo Portuguese Museum within the palace compound has some historically significant invaluable collections.Bastion Bunglow blends beautifully into the circular structure of the bastion, has a tiled room and a typical first floor verandah in wood along its front portion. It is believed that a network of secret tunnels run beneath the bungalow, but none have been found. Santa Cruz Cathedral built in the neo-classical style the pulpit is carved on wood and has a fantastic pastel-coloured interior. This church has some very beautiful paintings on the ceiling.       [top]

Vasco House sports the typical European glass paned windows and balcony cum verandahs characteristic of the times. Believed to have been the residence of Vasco da Gama. Chinese traders from the court of Kublai Khan are believed to have introduced these huge cantilevered fishing nets in the late14th century. The nets are built of teak wood and bamboo poles. They can best be seen at sunset, on the north end of the promontory, a few metres from Fort Kochi. The Bishops House a prominent heritage of Fort Kochi, it is characterised by large arches in Gothic Style and has circular garden path winding up to the main entrance. The Indo Portuguese Museum within the palace compound has some historically significant invaluable collections.Bastion Bunglow blends beautifully into the circular structure of the bastion, has a tiled room and a typical first floor verandah in wood along its front portion. It is believed that a network of secret tunnels run beneath the bungalow, but none have been found. Santa Cruz Cathedral built in the neo-classical style the pulpit is carved on wood and has a fantastic pastel-coloured interior. This church has some very beautiful paintings on the ceiling.       [top]