Mattancherry Palace or Dutch Palace

The Mattancherry Palace, also known as Dutch Palace,  stands overlooking Kochi backwaters, is situated at Palace Road, Mattancherry, 10km away from Kochi city. The unique importance of this monument is due to its mural paintings from the 16th century and dating up to 19th century.

History

By 1500 the Portuguese vessels landed at Cochin Harbour and started fortifications with the permission of the Raja. They built a palace in the traditional architectural style with some modifications in the European style and presented it in 1557 to the Cochin Raja Veera Kerala Varma, for his residence. Over two centuries it remained as the raja’s residence. In 1663, Dutch conquered the Portuguese settlements including Cochin and this palace was totally destroyed in the encounters. It was refurbished by the Dutch in the same place and was handed over to the rajas. Thus it was known as the Dutch palace representing the shared culture of the Netherlands.

The Palace & Murals

The palace with a Bhagavathi Temple in the central courtyard is built like the typical Kerala Nalukettu. A small temple dedicated to the deity Palayannur Bhagwati in the central courtyard, another complex dedicated to Vishnu and Siva in the southern complex had been constructed. In the western side of the palace there is a large masonry tank for bathing.

The Central Hall on the upper storey, once used for the coronation ceremony of Cochin’s Rajas, has a beautifully carved wooden ceiling. Beautiful and well-preserved murals decorate the walls of the rooms depicting scenes from Hindu mythology such as those from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranic legends.

The museum housed in the Palace exhibits a rich collection of regal memorabilia including costumes, palanquins, turbans and weaponry from the days of the Cochin rajas. A lamp is kept burning at the Royal Bedchamber perpetually, in memory of a king who died within the room. Among the more erotic paintings is a mural in the Ladies’ Bedchamber that depicts Krishna making love to all of eight gopikas simultaneously- quite a feat!

The Mattancherry Palace is open between 10 am and 5 pm every day except Fridays.

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