The kings of old Kerala were not an ostentatious lot. The palace is relatively small built of stone, brick, and very intricately carved wood. It is built for a hot environment with accoutrements slotted, louvered, and carved to accommodate air flow. Artisan carpenter’s work is seen throughout, still beautifully preserved over the four hundred year span of the palace’s existence. The audience chamber is small and designed for progression through and past the king’s chair—which is slightly ornate but hardly a throne. The museum on the grounds holds statues that used to reside in the several courtyards and some of the contents of the old armory. The British confiscated much of the goods from the palace but there was still a little left for us to view. There was also a private temple on the grounds, which was not open to the public. An aerial view might place it right in the center of the complex.
Leaving the palace there was a vendor who cut off the tops of husked coconuts. Fresh coconut milk is delicious and refreshing. After drinking the milk, he would take the coconut back and cut it in half to reveal the meat….very tasty too.
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