Mattancherry Palace - Revision history

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2024-05-04T11:35:22Z

small enhanced content after review additionally and added references per standard format

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	[[File:Mattancherry Palace DSC 0912.JPG\|right\|thumb\|200px\|Mattancherry Palace, back side]]		[[File:Mattancherry Palace DSC 0912.JPG\|right\|thumb\|200px\|Mattancherry Palace, back side]]

	The '''Mattancherry Palace''' is a ~~Portuguese~~ palace popularly known as the '''Dutch Palace''', in [[Mattancherry]], [[Kochi, India\|Kochi]], in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India\|state]] of [[Kerala]] which features [[Kerala murals]] depicting portraits and exhibits of the [[Rajas of Kochi]]. The palace was included in the "[[List of World Heritage Sites in India#Tentative list of Heritage sites\|tentative list]]" of [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage ~~Site~~]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/\|title=Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala\|website=whc.unesco.org}}</ref>		The '''Mattancherry Palace''' is a palace popularly known as the '''Dutch Palace''', in [[Mattancherry]], [[Kochi, India\|Kochi]], in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India\|state]] of [[Kerala]] which features [[Kerala murals]] depicting portraits and exhibits of the [[Rajas of Kochi]]. The palace was included in the [[List of World Heritage Sites in India#Tentative list of Heritage sites\|tentative list]] of [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/\|title=Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala\|website=whc.unesco.org}}</ref> Despite the name ''Dutch Palace'', the palace was built by the [[Portuguese Empire]] as a gift to the [[Kingdom of Cochin]].

	==History==		==History==
	The ~~Palace~~ was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin around 1545.<ref name="min-tour">{{cite web\|url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/kochi/listicles/heritage-sites-in-kochi.html\|title=Heritage Sites in Kochi\|work=[[Incredible India]]\|publisher=[[Ministry of Tourism (India)]]\|language=en\|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> The [[Dutch East India Company\|Dutch]] carried out some extensions and renovations in the palace in 1663, and thereafter it was popularly called Dutch Palace. The rajas also made more improvements to it. Today, it is a portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas and notable for some of the best mythological murals in India, which are in the best traditions of Hindu temple art. The palace was built to appease the king after they plundered a temple nearby.<ref name = "Archaeology">''Archaeological Museum, Cochin'', published by Archaeological Survey of India</ref><ref name="Webindia">{{cite web\|url=http://www.webindia123.com/monuments/palaces/dutch.htm \|title=Mattancherry Palace \|access-date=2008-01-20 \|publisher=webindia.123 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102230819/http://www.webindia123.com/monuments/palaces/dutch.htm \|archive-date=2008-01-02 }}</ref>		The palace was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin, around 1545.<ref name="min-tour">{{cite web\|url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/kochi/listicles/heritage-sites-in-kochi.html\|title=Heritage Sites in Kochi\|work=[[Incredible India]]\|publisher=[[Ministry of Tourism (India)]]\|language=en\|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> It was built to appease the king after they plundered a temple nearby.<ref name = "Archaeology">''Archaeological Museum, Cochin'', published by Archaeological Survey of India</ref><ref name="Webindia">{{cite web\|url=http://www.webindia123.com/monuments/palaces/dutch.htm \|title=Mattancherry Palace \|access-date=2008-01-20 \|publisher=webindia.123 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102230819/http://www.webindia123.com/monuments/palaces/dutch.htm \|archive-date=2008-01-02 }}</ref>
	The landing of [[Vasco da Gama]], the Portuguese explorer at [[Kappad]] in 1498 was welcomed by the Kochi rulers. ~~They~~ were given exclusive right to construct factories~~. The Portuguese~~ repulsed the repeated attacks of the [[Saamoothiri\|Zamorians]] and the Cochin Rajas practically became vassals of the Portuguese. The influence of the Portuguese ~~were~~ supplanted by the Dutch and they took over Mattancherry in 1663.<ref name = "Archaeology"/> Subsequently, the area was taken over by [[Hyder Ali]] and still later by the [[British East India Company]]		The landing of [[Vasco da Gama]], the Portuguese explorer, at [[Kappad]] in 1498 was welcomed by the Kochi rulers. The Portuguese were given exclusive right to construct factories and they repulsed the repeated attacks of the [[Saamoothiri\|Zamorians]], and the Cochin Rajas practically became vassals of the Portuguese. The influence of the Portuguese was supplanted by the Dutch, and they took over Mattancherry in 1663.<ref name = "Archaeology"/> Subsequently, the area was taken over by [[Hyder Ali]] and still later by the [[British East India Company]].

	==~~The Palace~~==		==Architecture==
	The palace is a quadrangular structure built in [[Nālukettu]] style, the traditional Kerala style of architecture, with a courtyard in the middle. In the courtyard there stands a small temple dedicated to 'Pazhayannur Bhagavati', the protective goddess of the [[Cochin Royal Family\|Kochi royal family]]. There are two more temples on either side of the Palace, one dedicated to [[Krishna\|Lord Krishna]] and the other to [[Lord Shiva\|Lord Siva]]. Certain elements of architecture, as for example the nature of its arches and the proportion of its chambers are indicative of European influence in basic Nālukettu style.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>~~<ref name = "Webindia"/>~~		[[File:Mattancherry_palace_at_night.jpg\|thumb\|Mattancherry palace at night]]
			The palace is a quadrangular structure built in [[Nālukettu]] style, the traditional Kerala style of architecture, with a courtyard in the middle. Certain elements of architecture, as for example the nature of its arches and the proportion of its chambers are indicative of European influence in basic Nālukettu style.<ref name = "Archaeology"/><ref name = "Webindia"/>
	The Dining Hall has carved wooden ornate ceiling decorated with a series of brass cups. The palace also contains rare examples of traditional Kerala flooring, which looks like polished black marble but is actually a mixture of burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices, and egg whites.<ref name = "Webindia"/>

	==Murals==		==Murals==
	[[File:Mattancherry palace murals.jpg\|thumb\|Several murals depicting Hindu religious art adorn the walls of the ~~Palace~~.]]		[[File:Mattancherry palace murals.jpg\|thumb\|Several murals depicting Hindu religious art adorn the walls of the palace.]]
	~~The glory~~ of ~~the palace rests~~ on the ~~large number~~ of ~~murals~~, executed in the ~~best~~ traditions of Hindu temple art, which are religious, decorative and stylised. The murals have been painted in rich warm colours in ~~tempera technique.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>~~		There a large number of murals on the walls of the palace, executed in the traditions of Hindu temple art, which are religious, decorative and stylised. The murals have been painted in rich warm colours in [[tempera]] technique.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

	The king's bedchamber or ''Palliyara'', to the left of the entrance and occupying the southwest corner of the Palace, is noteworthy with its low wooden ceiling and {{convert\|300\|sqft\|m2\|abbr=on}} of wall surface covered with about 48 paintings. These illustrate the ''[[~~Ramayana~~]]'', from the beginning of the sacrifice of [[Dasaratha]] to [[Sita]]'s return from captivity in [[Lanka]]. The paintings in this section are the earliest in the palace, dating back to the 16th century. The last five scenes are from the '[[Lilas of Krishna\|Krishna Lila]]', representing a cheerful Lord [[Krishna]] with eight of his milkmaid consorts.<ref name = "Webindia"/> The paintings are attributed to the artistic bent of mind of Veera Kerala Verma.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

	The upper staircase rooms, notably that of the coronation hall that was extended under Dutch patronage, contain some murals. The notable compositions in this section are - [[Lakshmi]] seated on the lotus, sleeping [[Vishnu]] (''Ananthasayanamurti''), [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]] seated with [[Ardhanari]]swara and other goddesses, the coronation of [[Rama]], and Krishna lifting [[Govardhan hill\|Mount Govardhana]].<ref name = "Webindia"/>

	On the opposite side of the coronation hall is the staircase room or Kovinithalam (Room No II), with a descent to the lower storey, there are four paintings of Shiva, Vishnu and Devi, and one incomplete. Room No. IV depict scenes from [[Kumarasambhava]] and other works of the great [[Sanskrit]] poet [[Kālidāsa]].<ref name = "Webindia"/> The latter set of paintings belonging to the eighteenth century.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

	==Other exhibits==		==Other exhibits==
	Portraits of the Rajas of Cochin, from 1864 onwards, are displayed in what was once the Coronation Hall. These were painted by local artists in western style. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with floral designs in woodcraft.		Portraits of the Rajas of Cochin, from 1864 onwards, are displayed in what was once the Coronation Hall. These were painted by local artists in the western style. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with floral designs in woodcraft. Amongst the other exhibits in the palace are an ivory palanquin, a [[howdah]], royal umbrellas, ceremonial dress used by the royalty, coins, stamps and drawings.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

	Amongst the other exhibits in the palace are an ivory palanquin, a [[howdah]], royal umbrellas, ceremonial dress used by the royalty, coins, stamps and drawings. .<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

	==Restoration==		==Restoration==
	In 1951, ~~Mattancherry Palace~~ was restored and declared a [[Government of India\|~~centrally~~]] protected monument. The palace ~~is already undergoing~~ a second restoration by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]]. The restoration will raise the historical structure to a building and a museum of an international standard, preserving its originality, yet highlighting the important facets, The palace is an architectural masterpiece showcasing the blend between colonial and Kerala architecture. The restoration aims at showcasing its true grandeur. The work which started in 2007 was ~~scheduled to be~~ completed by 2009.<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/09/17/stories/2007091750930100.htm		In 1951, the palace was restored and declared a [[Government of India\|central government]] protected monument. The palace underwent a second restoration by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]]. The work which started in 2007 was completed by 2009.<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/09/17/stories/2007091750930100.htm
			\| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103114718/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/09/17/stories/2007091750930100.htm
			\| url-status = usurped
			\| archive-date = 3 January 2013
	\|title = Back to the Dutch Palace again\| access-date = 2008-01-20 \| last =Abraham \| first = Tanya \| work = Metro Plus Kochi \| publisher = The Hindu, 17 September 2007}}</ref>		\|title = Back to the Dutch Palace again\| access-date = 2008-01-20 \| last =Abraham \| first = Tanya \| work = Metro Plus Kochi \| publisher = The Hindu, 17 September 2007}}</ref>

	~~==Paradesi Synagogue==~~
	~~[[File:Mattancherry_palace_at_night.jpg\|thumb\|Mattancherry palace at night]]~~
	Nearby is the [[Paradesi Synagogue]] built in 1568. Alongside are the antique shops in the meandering alleys of Jew Town, most of whose inhabitants have since migrated to Israel. The Mattancherry jetty and bus stand are behind the Palace. The area is full of shops attracting tourists hunting for mementoes to carry back home.

	Situated in between the Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue is the [[Pazhayannur]] Bhagavathy Temple, the ancestral deity or ''Paradevata'' of the Cochin Royal Family. The temple with royal patronage which shares its wall with the Jewish synagogue tells volumes about the religious tolerance and intercultural amity that existed during the time of the [[Kingdom of Cochin]].<ref>Ayub, Akber (ed), ''Kerala: Maps & More'', ''Fort Kochi & Mattancherry'', 2006 edition 2007 reprint, pp. 24-25, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, {{ISBN\|81-902505-2-3}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==
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	[[Category:1555 establishments in India]]		[[Category:1555 establishments in India]]
	[[Category:Mattancherry]]		[[Category:Mattancherry]]
			[[Category:World Heritage Tentative List for India]]

imported>Indielov: /* Murals */

2021-01-14T16:46:24Z

Murals

New page

{{short description|Palace at Mattancherry built by Portughese}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Mattancherry Palace
| native_language = [[Malayalam]]
| image = Mattancherry Palace DSC 0899.JPG
| image_size = 250px
| caption =
| designation1 =
| designation1_date =
| designation1_number =
| designation1_criteria =
| designation1_type = Cultural
| designation1_free1name = State Party
| designation1_free1value = {{IND}}
| designation1_free2name = Region
| designation1_free2value =
| location = [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| elevation =
| built = 1545<ref name="min-tour"/>
| architect =
| architecture =
| coordinates = {{coord|9.958|76.259|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = India
| map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
}}
[[File:Mattancherry Palace Walking Through Campus.webm|right|thumb|200px|Mattancherry Palace, Walk through Campus]]
[[File:Mattancherry Palace DSC 0912.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Mattancherry Palace, back side]]

The '''Mattancherry Palace''' is a Portuguese palace popularly known as the '''Dutch Palace''', in [[Mattancherry]], [[Kochi, India|Kochi]], in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Kerala]] which features [[Kerala murals]] depicting portraits and exhibits of the [[Rajas of Kochi]]. The palace was included in the "[[List of World Heritage Sites in India#Tentative list of Heritage sites|tentative list]]" of [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5573/|title=Mattanchery Palace, Ernakulam, Kerala|website=whc.unesco.org}}</ref>

==History==
The Palace was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin around 1545.<ref name="min-tour">{{cite web|url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/kochi/listicles/heritage-sites-in-kochi.html|title=Heritage Sites in Kochi|work=[[Incredible India]]|publisher=[[Ministry of Tourism (India)]]|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> The [[Dutch East India Company|Dutch]] carried out some extensions and renovations in the palace in 1663, and thereafter it was popularly called Dutch Palace. The rajas also made more improvements to it. Today, it is a portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas and notable for some of the best mythological murals in India, which are in the best traditions of Hindu temple art. The palace was built to appease the king after they plundered a temple nearby.<ref name = "Archaeology">''Archaeological Museum, Cochin'', published by Archaeological Survey of India</ref><ref name="Webindia">{{cite web|url=http://www.webindia123.com/monuments/palaces/dutch.htm |title=Mattancherry Palace |access-date=2008-01-20 |publisher=webindia.123 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102230819/http://www.webindia123.com/monuments/palaces/dutch.htm |archive-date=2008-01-02 }}</ref>
The landing of [[Vasco da Gama]], the Portuguese explorer at [[Kappad]] in 1498 was welcomed by the Kochi rulers. They were given exclusive right to construct factories. The Portuguese repulsed the repeated attacks of the [[Saamoothiri|Zamorians]] and the Cochin Rajas practically became vassals of the Portuguese. The influence of the Portuguese were supplanted by the Dutch and they took over Mattancherry in 1663.<ref name = "Archaeology"/> Subsequently, the area was taken over by [[Hyder Ali]] and still later by the [[British East India Company]]

==The Palace==
The palace is a quadrangular structure built in [[Nālukettu]] style, the traditional Kerala style of architecture, with a courtyard in the middle. In the courtyard there stands a small temple dedicated to 'Pazhayannur Bhagavati', the protective goddess of the [[Cochin Royal Family|Kochi royal family]]. There are two more temples on either side of the Palace, one dedicated to [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]] and the other to [[Lord Shiva|Lord Siva]]. Certain elements of architecture, as for example the nature of its arches and the proportion of its chambers are indicative of European influence in basic Nālukettu style.<ref name = "Archaeology"/><ref name = "Webindia"/>

The Dining Hall has carved wooden ornate ceiling decorated with a series of brass cups. The palace also contains rare examples of traditional Kerala flooring, which looks like polished black marble but is actually a mixture of burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices, and egg whites.<ref name = "Webindia"/>

==Murals==
[[File:Mattancherry palace murals.jpg|thumb|Several murals depicting Hindu religious art adorn the walls of the Palace.]]
The glory of the palace rests on the large number of murals, executed in the best traditions of Hindu temple art, which are religious, decorative and stylised. The murals have been painted in rich warm colours in tempera technique.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

The king's bedchamber or ''Palliyara'', to the left of the entrance and occupying the southwest corner of the Palace, is noteworthy with its low wooden ceiling and {{convert|300|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of wall surface covered with about 48 paintings. These illustrate the ''[[Ramayana]]'', from the beginning of the sacrifice of [[Dasaratha]] to [[Sita]]'s return from captivity in [[Lanka]]. The paintings in this section are the earliest in the palace, dating back to the 16th century. The last five scenes are from the '[[Lilas of Krishna|Krishna Lila]]', representing a cheerful Lord [[Krishna]] with eight of his milkmaid consorts.<ref name = "Webindia"/> The paintings are attributed to the artistic bent of mind of Veera Kerala Verma.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

The upper staircase rooms, notably that of the coronation hall that was extended under Dutch patronage, contain some murals. The notable compositions in this section are - [[Lakshmi]] seated on the lotus, sleeping [[Vishnu]] (''Ananthasayanamurti''), [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]] seated with [[Ardhanari]]swara and other goddesses, the coronation of [[Rama]], and Krishna lifting [[Govardhan hill|Mount Govardhana]].<ref name = "Webindia"/>

On the opposite side of the coronation hall is the staircase room or Kovinithalam (Room No II), with a descent to the lower storey, there are four paintings of Shiva, Vishnu and Devi, and one incomplete. Room No. IV depict scenes from [[Kumarasambhava]] and other works of the great [[Sanskrit]] poet [[Kālidāsa]].<ref name = "Webindia"/> The latter set of paintings belonging to the eighteenth century.<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

==Other exhibits==
Portraits of the Rajas of Cochin, from 1864 onwards, are displayed in what was once the Coronation Hall. These were painted by local artists in western style. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with floral designs in woodcraft.

Amongst the other exhibits in the palace are an ivory palanquin, a [[howdah]], royal umbrellas, ceremonial dress used by the royalty, coins, stamps and drawings. .<ref name = "Archaeology"/>

==Restoration==
In 1951, Mattancherry Palace was restored and declared a [[Government of India|centrally]] protected monument. The palace is already undergoing a second restoration by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]]. The restoration will raise the historical structure to a building and a museum of an international standard, preserving its originality, yet highlighting the important facets, The palace is an architectural masterpiece showcasing the blend between colonial and Kerala architecture. The restoration aims at showcasing its true grandeur. The work which started in 2007 was scheduled to be completed by 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2007/09/17/stories/2007091750930100.htm
|title = Back to the Dutch Palace again| access-date = 2008-01-20 | last =Abraham | first = Tanya | work = Metro Plus Kochi | publisher = The Hindu, 17 September 2007}}</ref>

==Paradesi Synagogue==
[[File:Mattancherry_palace_at_night.jpg|thumb|Mattancherry palace at night]]
Nearby is the [[Paradesi Synagogue]] built in 1568. Alongside are the antique shops in the meandering alleys of Jew Town, most of whose inhabitants have since migrated to Israel. The Mattancherry jetty and bus stand are behind the Palace. The area is full of shops attracting tourists hunting for mementoes to carry back home.

Situated in between the Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue is the [[Pazhayannur]] Bhagavathy Temple, the ancestral deity or ''Paradevata'' of the Cochin Royal Family. The temple with royal patronage which shares its wall with the Jewish synagogue tells volumes about the religious tolerance and intercultural amity that existed during the time of the [[Kingdom of Cochin]].<ref>Ayub, Akber (ed), ''Kerala: Maps & More'', ''Fort Kochi & Mattancherry'', 2006 edition 2007 reprint, pp. 24-25, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, {{ISBN|81-902505-2-3}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mattancherry Palace}}

{{Kochi (India) topics}}
{{Tourism in Kerala|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Houses completed in 1555]]
[[Category:Palaces in Kochi]]
[[Category:Royal residences in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Kerala]]
[[Category:Museums in Kochi]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Kerala]]
[[Category:1555 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Mattancherry]]