Krishnapuram Palace, Alleppey

Visitor Information

• Popular For: Cultural Experience Seekers, Architecture Enthusiasts and History Buffs
• Entry Fee: Rs 10 for adults and Rs 5 for children
• Visiting Time: 9:30 am -4:30 pm except on Mondays
• Visit Duration: 1-2hours

Alleppey, the land of backwaters of Kerala has some interesting tourist destinations. The Krishnapuram Palace is one such travelling destination in Alleppey. This palace is a Keralean architectural gem built by the 18th century Travancore king, Marthanda Varma. The finest specimens of history and culture of this region are stored here. The designs of this palace enthral people – from its gabled roofs to narrow corridors leading to rooms with dormer windows. The palace works as a museum and displays a wide range of specimens like sculptures, silver and bronze antiques, canvas paintings etc. All this makes it an attractive destination for architecture enthusiasts and local history buffs. Cultural experience seeks  get a glimpse of the heritage and culture of this region in this palace. Hence, the Krishnapuram Palace is an interesting travelling option in Allepey for different kinds of people.

Traveller Tips

• Keep sufficient time in hand to explore the palace.
• The palace remains closed between 1-2 pm. Avoid visiting during this time.
• Pets aren’t allowed inside the premises.
• Additional fees are there for camera and video recorder – for cameras it is Rs. 25 and for video recorder it is Rs 250. They charge Rs 1000 for a single video shooting and Rs1500 for a feature film.
• Food, Locker room and Bathroom facilities are available inside the palace.
• The palace starts closing around 4 pm and doesn’t allow entry to people after that.

Things To Do

• The stone inscriptions and archaeological remains are the must visit sections.
• Visit the megalithic remains, rare coin collections and antiques section of the museum.
• Explore the vast range of sculptures available at your disposal – from stone sculptures to wooden carvings to bronze statues. All can be found here.
• The Krishnapuram palace is well known for its mural paintings and has a special section dedicated for this purpose. Make sure you visit it.

Availability of Guides

You can hire a guide at the entrance itself. Guides are quite helpful here as they provide various inputs regarding local folk lore and history. With their guidance, you can explore the place in a short span and get a comprehensive picture of the history of the Kirshnapuram palace.

Best Time to Visit

Although the palace remains open throughout the year but September – march draws large number of crowds. It is during this time that several cultural festivals occur in Alleppey. The pleasant climate is an added bonus. Hence, the ideal time to visit is in post monsoon period September-November.

How to Reach

The Krishnapuram palace falls between Alleppey and Kollam. It is located at a distance of 30kms from Kollam and 47kms from Alleppey. Buses, cars and taxis connect to it by road. The Kayamkulam railway station is the closest and lies at a distance of 2km. Cheppad and Oachira are other railway stations in the vicinity. Kollam is the biggest railway junction in this area lying at  a distance of 39 km from the palace. The nearest airport is Trivandrum lying at a distance of 103km. Cochin Airport is 132 kilometres from here.

Interesting Facts and Trivia about Krishnapuram Palace

• Originally build by the Kayamkulam rulers, this 22 roomed palace functioned as their dwelling.
• The Travancore King Marthanda Varma refurbished the original palace.
• The palace has a 1.5 acres of area with a 2-storied building built on the guidelines of 16 kettus (enclosures) vashtushastra of Kerala style of architecture.
• It has 4 quadrangles leading to 4 different patios called Nadumuttam.
• The palace has various secret getaways and hidden path. It is decorated by a large pond and garden which holds the key to these secret escape routes.
• The 14 feet by 11feet Gajendra Moksham, or “the redemption of elephants”, is a 53 sq. ft. area housing the largest mural painting collection in Kerala.
• The palace is maintained by the archaeological department of Kerala.

Nearby Attractions

• Revi Karunakarn museum near the power house bridge, the Sri Krishna temple and Jain temple are good sightseeing options in the locality.
• Kumarakom bird sanctuary and Arivikkuzhi waterfalls are interesting tourist destinations lying in the vicinity.
• Punnamada Lake, Sea View Park and the Alleppey beach are excellent travelling destinations in the vicinity. All of them lie in Alleppey and hence lies within 40-50kms from the palace.
• Pathiramanal Island in the Vemband Lake lies close by.
• Buddha granite figure at Karumadi lies at a distance of few kilometres.

Nearby Restaurants

• Arya Veg Restaurant and Kenchik are the closest restaurants to the palace. They are located on the Kayamkulam-Thiruvalla highway.
• Lake Palace, The Sea Land Restaurant, American Fried Chicken, Malabar Hotel, Marvel Hotel, Krishnendu Homely Food and Baskin Robins are important eateries in the vicinity.
• Other good eating out options are found in Alleppey.

Thus, Krishnapuram Palace offers an insight into heritage and culture of the region. It is amongst the most sought after tourist destination near Alleppey. Hurry up and finalise your travel itinerary.