Renewed glory – Mattancherry Palace Museum
The Archeological Survey of India took up the initiative to repair and renew the Mattancherry Palace Museum at Mattancherry, Cochin, in 2006. The Portuguese built a palace here and presented it to the then King, Raja of Kochi, Vira Kerala Varma, around 1555. Later, the Dutch renovated it, and so the name stuck as the Dutch Palace. It is built in European and Kerala styles. The quadrangular structure stands in the nalukettu style, and an open courtyard in the centre. The central courtyard also houses a temple of the royal family, dedicated to Pazhayannur Bhagavathi.
In 1985, a museum was started here. It has six galleries—a gallery with maps of the Dutch forts in India, maps of Kochi of the Dutch period, a coronation hall, a hall with murals on scenes from the Ramayana , a dining hall, a women’s chamber and a staircase room. It also has photographs and pictures of Kochi’s kings and Royal family.
Mattancherry has a cultural mix of people and communities. It has many museums, art galleries and historical monuments. Mattancherry is about 10km from Cochin city. It is accessible by boat, buses and taxis.
