KOYIKKAL PALACE
Built by: Umayamma Rani
Houses: Folklore Museum, Numisamtics Museum
Famous As: The Official Residence Of Thavazhi
Koyikkal
Palace, the ancient palace, located 18 km from
Thiruvananthapuram on the way
to Ponmudi hillstation
and the Kuttalam waterfalls, dates back to the 15th century.
The palace is famous in the history of Kerala as the official residence
of Perakom Thavazhi (the maternal lineage), especially of Umayamma Rani of
the Venad royal family who ruled the land between 1677 AD and 1684 AD.
The two storeyed building with slanting gabled roofs is famous for 'Nalukettu',
the Traditional
Style of Architecture. The Department of Archaeology has set up two
museums in the palace, namely, a Folklore Museum and a Numismatics Museum
set up by the.
The Folklore Museum
Set up in the year 1992,The Folklore Museum is a treasure house of quaint
musical instruments, occupational implements, household utensils, models
of folk arts etc.
The exhibits include rare articles like 'Chandravalayam', a small
percussion instrument used as an accompaniment while reciting the ballad
'Ramakathappattu' (the story of Lord Sree Rama)' '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.
Housed on the first floor of the palace, the museum 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.
The Numismatics Museum
The Numismatics Museum housed on the ground floor of the Koyikkal Palace
is the only one of its kind in the whole of Kerala. The coins displayed
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.
Among the collection are nearly 374 Roman gold coins, each worth up to
five hundred thousand rupees today, depicting Roman gods and goddesses
like Venus, Hercules, Mars, Ceres, Genius, etc and rulers like Hardin (AD
117 - 138).
The museum also has coins used by various Indian dynasties - the Gwalior
royal family, the Nizam of Hyderabad, Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali, etc.
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279/A, Masjid Moth, South Extention - II
New Delhi - 110 049 (INDIA)
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Fax : +91-11-2625 9695
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