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Kerala is a green strip of land, in the South West corner of indian peninsula. It has only 1.1 8 per cent of the total area of the country but houses 3.43% of the the country's population. It has a hundred per cent literate people, the lowest infant mortality rate, the highest life expectancy rate, the highest quality of life etc. Something that attracts a traveler to the state of Kerala is the pristine environment, the rich and vibrant culture. |
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Tourist
Kerala.com —» Kerala Monuments
—» Dutch Palace
Dutch Palace
Visiting hours : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Fridays.
Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch.
The palace with a Bhagavathi temple in the central courtyard is built like the typical Kerala style mansion - the Nalukettu - the home of the aristocracy, nobility and upper classes, with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard.
The double storeyed palace building which stands by the panoramic Kochi back waters has an exquisite collection of murals collectively covering over 300 sq ft of its walls. The themes of these murals have been borrowed from the great Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha, and mythology and legends about the Hindu gods especially Guruvayurappan.
Some murals depict scenes from Kumarasambhavam and other works of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. Also on display are royal paraphernalia like weapons, swings and furniture which offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.
Getting there : There are frequent bus and boat services to Mattancherry. The boats start from Main Boat Jetty near Subash Park at Ernakulam town.
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam, about 10 km
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam town.
