Known for its beautiful backwaters and houseboat rides, Alleppey (Alappuzha) also has much to offer in terms of its culture and history. Krishnapuram Palace comes at the top as soon as you start exploring the city beyond its backwater canals.
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Located in Kayamkulam (around 50 kms south of Alleppey town), Krishnapuram Palace also houses a museum with beautiful artifacts and paintings at display.
Krishnapuram Palace is the miniature of Padmanabhapuram Palace situated in Thiruvananthapuram, considered to be the most famous palace in Kerala . Krishnapuram Palace is specially noted for its peculiar architectural style ‘Pathinarukettu’ – means a residence with four inner courtyards. Beautifully constructed mainly with wood, Palace is designed in a simple manner and you feel at calm while walking through its passages.
Beside its architecture, you will also find many artifacts in the Palace Museum. There is also a section dedicated to old coins and their history. There are also many stone sculptures belonging to medieval and ancient history. Most noted of all the artifacts are the ones from Harappa and Mohenjo Daro civilization. You will be amazed to see the Toy Animal from Mohenjo Daro and Buffalo from Harappa civilization what we have studied in our history books during childhood.
Krishnapuram palace is also noted for ‘Gajendra Moksham’, the largest single panel of mural painting found in Kerala. This picture covers an area of 154 sq feet, the biggest single panel mural painting so far found out.
Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple, Alleppey
We left from the Krishnapuram palace at around 5 PM for our next destination of Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple. This time, we took an alternate road, parallel to the beach. While we criss-crossed the beautiful backwaters of Alleppey multiple times on our way, it was a never ending beach on our left. Views were stunning with sun setting far at horizon and waves striking emphatically against the road side.
We reached the Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple at around 6:30 PM. Temple was bright with beautiful diyaas lit on its walls as devotees were rushing through the large passage leading to the temple.
It was evening Aarti (prayer) time and temple was vibrant with the sound of nagadas and dhols. People had lined up for darshan and blessings as they watched the sacred statue from the far gate. You can also enter inside the temple complex by removing your upper body clothes.
How to reach Krishnapuram Palace Museum & Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple
Krishnapuram Palace Museum (Location) is located around 50 KMs south of Alleppey and you will need your own conveyance to reach the museum. We had hired a scooter to roam around Alleppey and driven all the way to the Museum. Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple (Location) is around 18 KMs from Alleppey and will require a 2 KMs detour from the high way.
Alternately, you can also take a bus going to Thiruvananthapuram. Bus will drop you on the highway from where you can walk up to the Museum (~1 KM, 15 minutes)
Museum Timings and Ticket Prices
- Timings: 9 AM to 1 PM & 2 PM to 4.30 PM (Monday Holiday)
- Ticket Prices: Adult: Rs 20, Children: Rs 5, Still Camera: Rs 40, Mobile Camera: Rs 10, Video Camera: Rs 400