Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Krishnapurm Palace Museum


This palace was built during the reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma and is a miniature model of the Padmanabhapuram palace, near Thiruvanathapuram. Built in the traditional style, this spectacular 16 block building covers an area of 1.87 acres. An archeological museum, the restored two storied palace houses paintings, antique furniture and sculptures (including a seated Buddha), bronze anquities, swords, ancient vessels used for measuring grains, weights, cannon balls and models of umbrellas from the late medieval period. Attractions include a Sanskrit bible, Pooja ceremony utensils and oil lamps and a Buddha Mandapam in the garden. There is a three meter high mural that depicts Gajendra Moksha, the Puranic story of the Hindu god Vishnu rescuing the elephant Gajendra from the clutches of a crocodile. It is one of the largest panels of mural paintings in Kerala.within the palace complex is a pond where the king used to have his bath. The mural is placed at the entrance to the palace from the pond to enable the Raja to worship the deity after his bath

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