Kuthira Malika Museum at Trivandrum
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a famous temple in the East Fort area of Trivandrum in Kerala. To the southeastern side of the temple is the Kuthira Malika, a palace built by King Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma in the early 1840s. He was a poet and a musician and used a part of the complex as his personal study.
The palace is so called (Kuthira is Malayalam for horse) because of the over 100 wooden horses carved into the wall supporting the southern roof. Also known as the Puthen Malika, a part of it has been converted into the Kuthiramalika Museum, which is open to the public on all days except Mondays. It houses paintings of the royal family, paintings by famous painter Ravi Varma, musical instruments, artifacts, weapons and ornaments used by the Travancore royal family.
The Swati Thirunal Music Festival is conducted in the palace’s courtyard each year. The palace is only about a half-hour ride from the city centre and is well connected by buses and taxis.
