Kuthiramalika Palace or Puthenmalika, built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of
Travancore, is situated near
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in
Thiruvananthapuram.
Kuthiramalika Palace is a fine spectacle of Travancore architecture. The carvings, paintings and other artwork that form part of the structure give a glimpse of the royal splendour of those days. The palace is called Kuthiramalika from the exquisite series of sculpted prancing horses (Kuthira) that line the first floor gallery. The palace is now open to public as a museum.
This museum has a wide range of priceless exhibits, mostly from the gifts curios that the royal family received from India and overseas. Paintings, wood carvings and personal collections of the royal family are main items on display. More than a dozen life-size figures of Kathakali characters and Kerala legends, magnificent ivory cots, royal thrones and a musical tree are a few of the attractions of the museum.
