Mattancherry Palace In Kochi

Mattancherry Palace

Popularly known as the fashion Palace, the Mattancherry Palace is a Portuguese palace in Mattancherry, Kochi, in the state of Kerala. Mattancherry Palace is now a museum displaying materials belonging to the rajas of Kochi. Visit this destination to learn about the attractive history of Kerala through the medium of totally different artifacts and decorations.

The greatness of Mattancherry Palace lies in its simplicity, and it is built in the typical Kerala-style mansions reserved for the nobility. The four separate wings of the Mattancherry Palace also surround a central courtyard with a temple. It features murals depicting portraits and exhibitions of the Rajas of Kochi. They have been painted warmly using the tempera technique and included a portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas and beautiful mythological murals.

History of Mattancherry Palace 

When Vasco Da Gama landed at Kappad in 1498, he was welcomed by the Kochi rulers, who were given the exclusive rights to construct factories. The Portuguese despised the repeated attacks of Zamorians, and thereby the Cochin Rajas had become vassals of the Portuguese. The Mattancherry Palace was originally built by the Portuguese, who later gifted it to the King of Cochin in 1555. The Portuguese influence was replaced by the Dutch, who took over Mattancherry in 1663. The Dutch then carried out some extensions and updates in 1663, and since then, the palace has been popularly known as the Dutch Palace.

Murals in Mattancherry Palace 

The Mattancherry Palace has many murals painting the Ramayana, a few scenes from the Krishnan Lila, and various gods and goddesses in different positions. Some notable murals include Lakshmi seated on the lotus, the coronation of Rama, sleeping Vishnu, Shiva and Parvati seated with Ardhanariswara and other goddesses, and Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana. The paintings are credited to the artistic bends of the mind of Veera Kerala Verma. The murals are killed on the best traditions of Hindu temple art, which are religious and decorative.

 Other murals depict scenes from Kumarasambhavam and other works of the Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. Everyday items such as weapons, swings, Dutch maps of old Kochi, royal palanquins with all designs, silver sequined gowns, royal umbrellas make of silk and brass, public royal sword, and furniture belonging to the royal family are also on display here.

The architecture of Mattancherry Palace 

The palace is square, having a Nalukettu style of architecture (traditional Kerala style) with a hint of European influence in the insect and the chambers. The Mattancherry Palace has a courtyard in the middle consisting of three temples dedicated to 'Pazhayannur Bhagavati,' the protective goddess of the Kochi royal family, Lord Krishna, and Lord Shiva, respectively. The dining hall has fancy. Wooden limit decorated with a series of brass cups. There are rare examples of traditional Kerala flooring, a mixture of burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices, and egg whites that looks like black marble.