The small village of Padmanabhapuram, originally known as kalkulam was once the capital of the powerful Venad kingdom which later came to be known as the princely state of Travancore. The Padmanabhapuram palace, also called the Kalkulam Palace is regarded as an architectural masterpiece, made mostly of wood, with its murals, relics, floral carvings, and black granite floors still wowing all who visit. Built over 400 years ago, this structure is the largest wooden palace in all of Asia.
While the palace appears beautiful from the outside, the real architectural feat is the Durbar Hall with floors made from mixing egg whites, charcoal, jaggary, burnt coconut, lime and river sand. The palace also highlights other marvels like windows made from coloured mica, a musical bow made of Mahogany, ornately painted ceilings, and carved chairs. The perfect way to experience the unique mysticism of Kerala’s history and spend a relaxing evening.
Location: Thiruvananthapuram
Distance from the hotel: 51 km
Distance from the airport: 61 km
Driving time: 1 hour 20 minutes
