Archetecture

Architecture of Kerala may be classified under two broad heads, namely Domestic and religious architecture. The traditional Houses and the 'Nalukettu' belong to the domestic architecture. The public buildings seen in Thiruvananthapuram and the royal palaces in several parts of the state are the relics of a by gone era. The religious architecture is embodied in temples, Churches and mosques of the state. Even today, as the 'Nalukettu' has become defunct, there are a number of buildings in Kerala, which proclaim the simple but functional style associated with Kerala architecture. Its capital city contains a few buildings, noted for their architectural attractions, the museum buildings, the palace at Kowadiyar and Kanakakkunnu, the Golf pavilion, the public library, the Fine Arts College etc. The dominant element in the architecture of these buildings is the typical Kerala style roof, built of superior quality woodwork with tiles on it and projecting dormers, representing the art and beauty of wooden constructions at its best. The old palaces like, the Padmanabhapuram palace, the Dutch palace at Mattancherry and the Krishnapuram palace at kayamkulam were built on the traditional Kerala architecture. The Padmanabhapuram palace, built as a 'Nalukettu', with the courtyard or 'Nadumuttam' in the middle. The Krishnapuram palace at Kayamkulam of Marthandavarma (1729-1758) is a typical example. The Dutch place at Mattancherry, originally built by the Portuguese in 1557 was presented to the then ruler of Cochin, an imposing double-storied structure built in 'Nalukettu' style. Besides these palaces of Travancore, old palaces can be seen in the Cochin and Malabar areas. The Bolgatti palace built by the Dutch in 1744 is now a tourist hotel. The Kalikkotta palace at Thrippunithura and the palace built by the Dutch for the Paliyathachan at Chennamangalam, The Arrackal palace of Ali Raja at Kannur, the Zamorins palace at Meenchanta and Kottackal, the palace of the Kolathiri at Chirackal and Nilambur Kovilakam palaces are good examples for the old Kerala style of architecture.

Temple architecture

The Siva temple at Kaviyoor and the Koodalmanikyam temple Irinjalakkuda are noted for their beautiful broad arched layout and granite basement. The Siva temple at Thiiruvannnur and Thrippangode represent the apsidal type. While The rectangular and elliptical ground plans may be seen in the case of a few temples in Kerala. The Sree padmanabhaswami temple at Thiruvananthapuram follows the rectangular type and the Siva temple at Vaikom the elliptical. The temples built on squire plan are seen almost all parts of Kerala. Trikkulasegharapuram and the Kizthali Siva temple at Tali near Vadakkanchery are examples. The Vadakkumnnathan temple at Thrissur has ten subsidiary shrines and Siva temple Thiruvanchkkulam and Vamana Temple at Thrikkakara, eight each. The temple theaters in the Thirunakkara temple Kottayam, Subrahmanya temples at Harippad and Kidangur are among the most famous of their kind in Kerala. Nalukettu In early days large houses, 'Nalukettu', were built to fit the requirements of the joint family. Built on the principles of 'Thachusastra' as expounded in the 'Manushyalaya Chandrika', with a rectangular shape and a courtyard or 'nadumuttam' as the center.