- Built
- Mid-16th century
- Timings
- 10 AM to 5 PM, closed Fridays
- Ideal time needed
- About 1 hour
- Nearest railway station
- Ernakulam Junction
- Nearest airport
- Cochin International Airport
What to see
The murals cover several rooms and show episodes from the Ramayana along with other Hindu themes, painted in the rich reds, ochres and greens typical of Kerala temple art. They are detailed, crowded compositions and are worth reading slowly, panel by panel.
Other galleries display portraits of the rulers of Kochi, royal palanquins, costumes, weapons and ceremonial items, which give a good picture of court life and of the trading port that Kochi was for centuries. The central courtyard once held a shrine to Pazhayannur Bhagavathy, the family deity of the royal house.
Timings and tickets
The palace is generally open from 10 AM to 5 PM and stays closed on Fridays. There is a small entry fee, and photography inside the mural rooms is not allowed. Check timings before you go, as holidays can change them.
Tips for your visit
Allow about an hour, a little more if you like to study the paintings closely. The mural rooms are dimly lit to protect the paintings, so give your eyes a moment to adjust, and avoid touching the walls. Combine the palace with the Paradesi Synagogue a short walk away, the spice warehouses of Jew Town, and then continue to Fort Kochi for St Francis Church and the Chinese fishing nets.
How to reach
Mattancherry is on the western side of Kochi. From Ernakulam you can take a ferry across the backwaters to Fort Kochi or Mattancherry, or go by road. Ernakulam Junction is the main railway station and Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is about 40 km away. We can plan a Kochi heritage day as part of a Kerala tour.
Also nearby
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