The Mansion of Horses: Kuthira Malika Palace

Aliza Rizwan

The Mansion of Horses: Kuthira Malika Palace

The Kuthira Malika Palace, built in 1840s by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, stands as an spectacular monument that gives one curious information about the glorious history of Kerala style architecture. The word 'Kuthira Malika' literally translates to 'mansion of horses', and it has been named so because of the 122 horses that adore the pillars that support the southern roof of this magnificent structure. The palace preserves the many traditional art forms of India, mainly the south.

Kuthiramalika Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Source - keralatourism.travel.com

Inside, the palace floor is made of egg whites, charcoal, and limestone, providing a cool and smooth texture in hot weather conditions. One of the most captivating reasons for the palace's popularity is the Swathi Sangeethotsavam, an annual music festival held here. Thousands of people gather to witness mesmerising performances by classical musicians invited to the festival. The culture hall on the palace premises features well-designed traditional sound reflectors comprising fifty clay pots hung upside down from the ceiling to create an echo effect. A part of the Kuthira Malika Palace has been transformed into an elegant museum, where visitors can glimpse ancient antiquities of the Travancore Dynasty, feeling as if they have been transported back to prehistoric times. The wide, mesmerising hallways and immaculate wooden carvings with awe-striking paintings exude an unadulterated sense of royalty, captivating all with their hypnotic charm.

Mansion of Horses: Kuthiramalika Palace

Kuthiramalika Palace stands as a magnificent example of Kerala-style architecture, comprising a vast complex of royal buildings. Translating to "Mansion of Horses," the palace gets its name from the 122 horses intricately carved into the wooden wall brackets that support the southern roof. Officially known as Puthen Malika, it is located near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The splendid structure was built by Sri Swathi Thirunal, Kuthiramalika, or Puthenmalika, and it leaves tourists in awe with its intricate carvings, massive pillars, and traditional flooring, boasting immense historical and architectural significance.

The museum houses precious exhibits, including fourteen-inch life-size Kathakali figures, tall and elegant Belgian and Italian mirrors, glamorous crystal chandeliers, paintings, a giant harpoon specially brought in from Belgium, various armaments, antique musical instruments, impeccably designed traditional furniture, and gigantic Greek statues. These awe-inspiring elements attract numerous artists and historians alike.

Displayed are the two prolific royal thrones of the Travancore kings. One of these thrones is a complete masterpiece made from ivory, requiring twenty-four elephant tusks. The other one is made of precious Bohemian crystals and adorned with the Travancore emblem, the 'conch,' on the top.

Constructed in the 1840s, the palace took four years and 5000 Vishwakarma to complete. Traditional Kerala architecture characterises it, with its sloping roofs, overhanging eaves, pillared verandahs, and enclosed courtyards. Intricate carvings adorn the wooden ceilings, and each room is designed with a unique pattern. Teakwood, rosewood, marble, and granite form the palace, while the roof boasts forty-two exquisitely carved wooden beams, supported by granite pillars. Floral motifs grace the verandah's ceiling, and the mansion houses sixteen rooms constructed in sixteen different patterns. In total, there are eighty rooms, out of which twenty were accessible to visitors in 1995.

The famous illusion portrait of Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, painted by Svetoslav Roerich, is a peculiar highlight. The portrait's eyes and feet seem to follow you, no matter the direction from which you observe them. Moreover, the unique structure of the musical tree brings auspiciousness, playing eight different sounds when heard from various locations.

The auspicious history of Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma is appealing to the eyes, the Kingdom of Travancore in British India thier art and architecture all makes an exemplary effect on the people who visit