Mattancherry Palace

An ancient palace in the city of Kochi in Kerala built by the Portuguese that houses a comprehensive collection of royal paraphernalia and is a breathtaking piece of structure in itself.

About the Museum

Also known as the Dutch Palace, the Mattanchery Palace was however, built by the Portuguese and only the repair and renovation of the palace was done by the Dutch later in the years.Constructed by the Portuguese in 1555 as a present to King Veera Kerala Verma with the hope of establishing trade relations with the kingdom, the Palace was used by the rulers of Kochi as their royal residence and for other important royal ceremonies.

The palace is a stunning two-storied edifice built in a traditional Kerala style naalukettu (quadrangular) model with four individual wings that open in a courtyard. The central courtyard houses a temple of the royal deity Pazhayannur Bhagavathi with two small temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva on either side. The elegant white colored walls of the palace enhance its regal look while the beautiful arches form a perfect spot to glance the sprawling city outside. The ground floor has ladies’ room while the Coronation Hall, royal bed chamber, dining hall, and assembly hall are located on the first floor. Other highlight of the palace that visitors find appealing is the unique flooring done with a mixture of burnt coconut shells, lime, plant juices, and egg-whites that is a piece of art in itself.

Not just the architecture, the Dutch Palace has an intriguing collection of mural paintings and antique royal regalia including furniture and weapons. The mural paintings represent the rich cultural and mythological history of Kerala and India such as the mural painting in the royal bed chamber which depicts the entire story of Ramayana. The Coronation Hall houses life-like statues of the Kings of Kochi that were made by the local artists and the other exhibits displayed here include the Dutch maps of old Kochi, royal palanquins with silver designs, royal umbrellas made of brass and silk, the royal sword, and some other regal paraphernalia that make a fascinating display for the visitors from all over the globe.