Koyikkal Palace
Location : Nedumangad, about 18 km from Thiruvananthapuram city on the
way to the Ponmudi hill station and the Courtalam waterfalls, Thiruvananthapuram
district, south Kerala.
Attractions : Palace, folklore museum and numismatics museum.
Visiting hours : 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days, except Mondays.
The Koyikkal Palace, situated far of away from the city, was actually built
for Umayamma Rani of the Venad royal family who ruled the land between 1677
and 1684. The palace is a double stroreyed traditional nalukettu with slanting
gabled roofs and an inner courtyard. Today, the palace houses a Folklore Museum
and a Numismatics Museum set up by the Department of Archaeology. The Folklore
Museum, a treasure house of quaint musical instruments, occupational implements,
household utensils, models of folk arts etc, was set up in 1992.
The exhibits here draw attention to the rich cultural background of the State.
The exhibits include rare articles like Chandravalayam (not found in any other
such museum in Kerala), a small percussion instrument used as an accompaniment
while reciting the ballad Ramakathappattu (the story of Lord Sree Rama); and
Nanthuni , a sweet sounding musical instrument made of wood and string used
while singing the Onappattu and Nanthunippattu during Onam the harvest festival
of Kerala. The Folklore Museum housed on the first floor of the palace also
has a wide range of household utensils including wooden kitchenware, brass/copperware
etc. representing the lifestyle of the Keralites during different eras. Thaliyola
(old manuscripts), Chilambu (a sort of anklet) used by Umayamma Rani and Maravuri
(dress material made of the bark of trees) etc. are well preserved here.
Oorakkudukku a device for intellectual exercise used by the Yogis as a pastime,
Gajalekshmi - a lamp representing the goddess of prosperity - Lekshmi-seated
on her elephant (this lamp is usually lighted at dusk and during the harvest
season to welcome the goddess) are other interesting exhibits. The Kettuvillakku
- a ceremonial lamp (artistically made out of coloured paper and locally available
light wood splits/rails), lit during festivals at the Bhagavathy temples of
southern Kerala; a model of the most impressive of Theyyams - the Muthappan
theyyam , a Patayani kolam model ; the headgear and dress used by Ottanthulal
artistes exhibited here give an insight into the performing as well as the ritual
art forms of Kerala. The Numismatics Museum at the Koyikkal Palace is the only
one of its kind in the State.
Occupying the ground floor of the palace, the coins here belong to different
parts of the world as well as to different eras. This rare and historically
valuable collection is a vestige of the trade relation of the State in the bygone
ages. Among the exhibits are some of the oldest coins of Kerala - Ottaputhen,
Erattaputhen, Kaliyugarayan Panam etc. A Venetian coin named Amaida, believed
to have been presented to Jesus Christ, is also a property of this museum. The
most valuable among the Indian coins found here are 'Karsha'. These are nearly
2500 years old. Rasi, the world's smallest coins are also on display here.
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