Teamaksharhospital: starting some stub w/ refs!

2026-04-03T12:12:31Z

starting some stub w/ refs!

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Shakthan Thampuran Palace
| image = Sakthan Thampuran Palace, Thrissur.jpg
| caption = Facade of Shakthan Thampuran Palace, City of [[Thrissur]]
| latitude =
| longitude =
| location_town = City of [[Thrissur]]
| location_country = [[India]]
| architect =
| client = [[Sakthan Thampuran]], [[Maharaja of Cochin]]
| engineer =
| construction_start_date =
| completion_date = 1795
| demolished_date =
| cost =
| structural_system = [[Kerala]] style of [[Nālukettu]]
| architectural_style = [[Kerala]]-[[Dutch architecture|Dutch]] style
| size =
}}
'''Shakthan Thampuran Palace''' is situated in City of [[Thrissur]] in [[Kerala]] state, [[India]]. It is named as '''Vadakkechira Palace''', was reconstructed in Kerala-Dutch style in 1795 by Ramavarma Thampuran<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thrissur.gov.in/tourist-place/sakthan-palace/|title=Sakthan Palace|website=thrissur.gov.in|access-date=2018-10-23}}</ref> of the erstwhile Princely State of [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]], well as [[Sakthan Thampuran]] (Greatest ruler of the Cochin dynasty) is preserved by [[Archaeological]] [[Academic department|Department]]. The palace was converted into a museum in 2005 by [[States of India|State]].<ref name="tourism">{{cite web
|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/monuments/shakthan-thampuran-palace-1585576622.php
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213210421/https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/monuments/shakthan-thampuran-palace-1585576622.php
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2010-02-13
|title=Shakthan Thampuran Palace
|publisher=Kerala Tourism
|access-date=2010-09-20}}</ref>
<ref name="hindu">{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/07/02/stories/2006070200360700.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708155725/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/07/02/stories/2006070200360700.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=8 July 2006
|title=Page from the past
|access-date=2010-09-20
|location=Chennai, India
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|date=2 July 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/kerala-article/shakthan-palace-kochi/11|title=Shakthan Thampuran Palace {{!}} Kerala Tourism|website=Kerala Tourism|language=en|access-date=2018-09-29}}</ref>
[[File:Shakthan Thampuran Palace eastern gate.JPG|thumb|Eastern Gate]]
==Style==
The main structure of the Sakthan Thampuran Palace has a two-storeyed building and a traditional Kerala style [[Nālukettu]]. High roofs, extra thick walls, spacious rooms and floors paved with finely smoothened Italian marbles are some of the structural specialities of this palace. The interiors of the palace, because of its unique construction offer comfortable and pleasant staying conditions irrespective of the prevailing weather conditions.
<ref name="hindu"/>

==History==
Sakthan Thampuran Palace once belonged to the Perumpadappu Swaroopam, the ruling dynasty of [[Kingdom of Cochin|Kochi]]. This was the centre of power of King Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran, who ruled [[Kingdom of Cochin|Kochi]] between AD 1790 and 1805. His rule was regarded as the Golden Era of the Cochin dynasty. The palace is close to the Vadakkumnathan Temple in Thrissur. Saktan Thampuran is credited with the introduction of the Thrissur Pooram festival, an annual festival in May with teams representing the Parmekavu Bhagavathy temple and Tiruvambadi Krishna temple competing for primacy in front of the Vadakkumnathan temple with elephants, percussion, drums, fireworks, etc. The palace was once known as Vadakkechira Kovilakam and it was the king who renovated it into the present form. The palace keeps with it the historical remnants of some important events like the visit of [[Tipu Sultan]] with his army. The last member of the royal family to reside here was Rama Varma Bharathan Thampuran, a grand nephew of Chowwarayil Theepetta Veliyathampuran. The palace has a very old Sarpakavu (sacred serpent grove) in its premises.<ref name="tourism"/>

==Museum==
The museum displays [[Bronze]] [[Balcony|Gallery]] where one can find bronze statues belonging to the period between the 12th and the 18th centuries, [[Sculpture]] gallery displaying granite statues from the 9th century to the 17th century, [[Numismatics]] Gallery, which systematically displays ancient coins, which were in circulation in the former province of [[Kochi]] and neighbouring kingdoms and the history gallery depicting some of the milestones of the Kochi dynasty and the [[Epigraphy]] Gallery showcasing the genesis and evolution of ancient writings. Other galleries of interest at the palace include, a Gallery for [[Household]] [[food utensil|Utensils]] made of [[bronze]] and [[copper]], used by the rulers of Kochi; and a [[Megalithic]] Gallery exhibiting remains of the great stone age.<ref name="tourism"/>

The numismatic section have coins used in Kerala from the 5th century B.C. Roman gold coins (from the Eeyyal hoard) and [[Travancore]] native coins (in silver), Veerarayans (gold coins) otta puthan and iratta puthan issued by the kings of Cochin are displayed. These indicate an urban development and commerce. The coin board that measured coins in hundreds to thousands is unique. The coins issued by Tipu Sultan during his brief spell in Kerala, Indo-Dutch coins, Malabar coins (issued by the [[French India|French]]), and coins of [[British India]] point to different periods of the history of Kerala.
<ref name="hindu"/>

== Serpent Grove ==
Serpent Grove or [[Sarpa Kavu]] is a snake shrine built for worship of serpent gods like ''Naga Raja'' (King of the snakes) and other snake deities, which is believed to bring prosperity to the royal family. Apart from the occasional prayers and ritualistic feeding of milk to the snakes to please the serpent gods, human interventions in these places are nil.

The snake deities worshiped in serpent grove in the place is ''Naga raja'' and ''Nagayakshi.'' They are located in the palace garden and can be found under a [[Alstonia scholaris|Saptarna tree]].

Located on the southern side of the Shakthan Palace is the [[Natural heritage|Heritage]] [[Garden]], set up recently to exhibit and preserve some of the indigenous varieties of [[plants]] and [[trees]] of Kerala. The archaeological garden, situated in the northeastern part of the palace, has collections from the [[Stone Age]] recovered from the outskirts of Thrissur.<ref name="tourism" /><ref name="hindu" />
<gallery mode="packed-hover" widths="240" heights="240">
File:Two images - Nagaraja and Nagayakshi under a Saptarna Tree.jpg|Front view of the serpent grove
File:Nagaraja under a Saptarna Tree.jpg|Nagaraja under a Saptarna Tree
File:Nagayakshi under a Saptarna Tree.jpg|Nagayakshi under a Saptarna Tree
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}{{commons category}}
{{coord|10.531181|76.216259|type:landmark|display=title}}

{{Tourist attractions in Thrissur}}
{{Tourism in Kerala|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Palaces in Thrissur]]
[[Category:Royal residences in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Thrissur]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1795]]
[[Category:1795 establishments in India]]

Shakthan Thampuran Palace - Revision history

Teamaksharhospital: starting some stub w/ refs!