A serene boat ride through the Ashtamudi lake introduces you to the legendary architecture of Thevally Palace. The palace situated on the banks of Ashtamudi lake was constructed for the Maharajas of Travancore. This finest piece of architecture was built during the period of 1811 to 1819, under the reign of Gowri Parvati Bhayi. The building was constructed for the Maharajas to conduct meetings with the British officials and residents. But now the palace is under the control of the Public Works Department.
It is no doubt that Thevally Palace is an architectural wonder. The most significant feature of its architecture is that it is an ideal mixture of British, Dutch and Portuguese styles. The overall structure of the palace is made up of materials such as lime plaster and laterite. Within the premises of the Thevally Palace, there is a temple dedicated to Lord Sastha.
The ancient beautiful architecture of the palace with its own temple for worship attracts thousands of tourists to the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and to the palace. The palace provides a captivating view of the nearby villages, green coconut groves, palm trees, refreshing water of the lake etc.
Another interesting factor is that a monument is built in the palace premises in memory of a faithful dog. The myth behind the monument is that there was a beautiful lady in the Palace who fell in love with a British resident living across the Ashtamudi lake. The dog was the messenger between the couple who carried their love letters to each other. One night the dog was seen dead, but the reason behind the death is still unknown. Yet the monument was built in memory of the dog.
Gather your time to afford a houseboat ride through Ashtamudi lake which will take you to the courtyard of Thevally Palace, one of the archaeological fascinations in Kerala.
Contact Details
Thevally Palace
Elamballoor Road,
Palace Nagar, Thevally,
Kollam, Kerala 691009
