Poonjar Palace
Location: Poonjar Palace at Poonjar on the Pala-Erattupetta route, Kottayam
district, central Kerala.
Attractions: Royal collection of antiques, rock cut lamps, sculptures etc. The
Poonjar Palace is a glorious testimony to the regal opulence of a bygone era.
Within the palace walls is an extraordinary royal collection of antiques and
exquisite furniture including a palanquin, a thoni carved out of a single piece
of wood for Ayurvedic massages, huge chandeliers, palm leaf engravings, jewel
boxes, varieties of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (the dancing Siva), grain
measures, statues and weapons.
A unique conch preserved here is taken out once a year for ritualistic purposes.Near
the palace is an amazing replica of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. The walls
of this temple bear sculptures that narrate stories from the Puranas (the legends
of ancient India). However, the most fascinating thing here is the Chuttuvilakku
(row of lamps) carved out on the stonewalls of the Sastha Temple nearby. Such
rocks cut lamps are rare in India.
Getting there:
Nearest major railway station: Kottayam, about 30 km from Pala. Nearest airport:
Cochin International Airport, about 76 km from Kottayam town.
Monuments in Kerala
Madhavan Nayar Foundation
|| Chendamangalam || The
Antique Sellers of Jew Street || The Museum
of Kerala History || Dutch Palace
|| Thangasseri || Poonjar
Palace || Krishnapuram Palace
|| Synagogue || Indo-Portuguese
Museum || Fort Kochi || Vasco
da Gama Square || Mattancherry Palace
|| Bolghatty Island || The
Hill Palace Museum || Kunchan
Smarakam || Aranmula || Vizhinjam
Rock Cut Cave || Koyikkal Palace
|| Padmanabhapuram Palace
|| Kerala Kalamandalam || Thrithala
