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Dutch Palace (Kochi)

India / Kerala / Kochi
 palace, architectural heritage

The credit for constructing this impressive palace around a.d 1555 goes to the Portuguese who presented it to Vira Kerala Verma, the ruler of Kochi, in exchange of trading rights. However, it is popularly known as the Dutch Palace because during their short-lived regime, the Dutch were responsible for renovating the palace. The brilliantly executed mural paintings, depicting scenes from the Puranas (ancient Hindu scriptures) and the two Hindu epics, Mahabharata and the Ramayana, are the highlights of the palace. The tempera style of painting was used in the murals. The coronation of the Raja of Kochi, an event of great significance, was held in the palace. Echoing with tales of ghosts, hidden treasures and secret passages, the spacious palace is sure to capture the imagination of every visitor.

While a Bhagavati Temple stands in the courtyard of the two storeyed, quadrangular palace, there is another temple complex of Shiva (the Destroyer in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator- Preserver- Destroyer) and Vishnu (the Preserver) to the south of the edifice. The palace is built on the lines of traditional Kerala architecture known as nalukettus (four buildings).
Added by:
Anurag Chandra Gupta
anurag@cuindia.com
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   9°57'29"N   76°15'33"E
This article was last modified 12 years ago