Krishnapuram Palace
The Krishnapuram Palace is a palace and museum that is located in Kayamkulam, at a distance of 47 km from Alappuzha (Alleppey) in the Alappuzha district of Kerala in south-western India. One of the famous palaces of Kayamkulam, this magnificent palace was built during the reign of a Travancore King, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma and is well known for its mural paintings and architecture. In fact, the palace is built in the traditional architectural style of Kerala, with a gabled roof, narrow corridors and dormer windows, and is close to the Krishnaswamy Temple at Krishnapuram.
The Krishnapuram Palace is currently maintained by the Archaeological Department of Kerala and contains a variety of exhibits that once belonged to the Palace and its former occupant. A major attraction of this place is that it houses is one of the biggest mural paintings that can be found in all of Kerala. Known as the 'Gajendra Moksha', this mural painting covers an area of around 53 square feet and has a rich historical value attached to it. The double-edged sword Kayamkulam Vaal can also be found here.
The palace is situated on the top of a small hill and is surrounded by a terraced garden with fountains, ponds and lawns. Other attractions here include the beautifully landscaped garden in the palace compound that is home to a variety of flora, and a newly erected Buddha Mandapam, which houses a recently recovered statue of Lord Buddha. The Krishnapuram Palace was recently renovated again following the scientific techniques that are prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings and continues to be a rare specimen of the Kerala style of architecture that has survived till date.