Eraniel Palace is a small (currently dilapidated) palace located near

Eraniel Eraniel is a panchayat town in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is of major commercial and political importance in the history of South India, as it was the seasonal capital of the affluent Venad and later Travancore ...

village, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu,

South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...

and is considered a treasure-trove of

Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...

and

Venad Venad was a medieval kingdom between the Western Ghat mountains of India with its capital at city of Quilon.Noburu Karashmia (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 143 ...

history.

History

The palace was an important place of political and commercial importance in South India, since Eraniel town was a seasonal capital of the

kingdom until the seventeenth century when

Padmanabhapuram Padmanabhapuram () is a town and a municipality near Thuckalay in Kanyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As of 2011, the town had a population of 21,342. Padmanabhapuram was the capital of Travancore state in the past. In 17 ...

came into prominence. However, in the 21st century, only some modest glimpses of the old royal heritage of the historic Eraniel town can be found in the remains of the old palace (Thekkaethevan Koikkal), "its ornate granite pillars, some timber beams, decaying walls that seem ready to fall anytime soon, and the already collapsed roof." Eraniel palace view from the entrance

Architecture

The present day Eraniel palace complex spreads over slightly more than three-and-one-half acres. However, it is mostly in dilapidated condition due to decades of neglect. Currently, only three identifiable parts of the palace remains: * the Padippura ( :ml:പടിപ്പുര) or the majestic entrance gateway leading to the main palace (this is currently in total ruins) * the

Kuthira malika Kuthiramalika () is a Travancore Kingdom palace built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma on the south-eastern side of Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram. Kuthira Malika translates to 'Mansion of horses', and it has been named so because of ...

(translation: ''Mansion of horses''), the main area of the palace, that was a modest double storied courtyard house * the Vasantha mandapam (translation: ''Spring pavilion''), a detached pavilion built on top of an elevated platform. It is replete with beautiful carvings. It is located on the western side of the palace complex. There used to be an ever burning lamp in the Vasanta mandapam, kept as a memorial to a miraculous incident that happened centuries ago, as documented by Emily Gilchriest Hatch, the author of ''Travancore – A Guide Book for the Visitor'' (1933). The palace compound also has a pond within, that was probably used by the royalty. Dressed granite blocks were used to perfectly line and bound the sides of this pond.

Restoration

The palace is owned by Government of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

but there is almost zero management or maintenance, that led to its present-day dilapidated condition. Although the Government had announce
plans
to reconstruct the complex and the

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu manages and controls the temple administration within the state. The Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act XXII of 1959 controls 36,425 ...

has made estimates to invite tenders, the palace complex remains in ruins and uncared for.

References

{{reflist Palaces in Tamil Nadu Buildings and structures in Kanyakumari district

History

Architecture

Restoration

See also

References