Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala state and goes by the popular name of Thiruvananthapuram. The first recorded history of Kerala was mentioned in the ancient inscriptions of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (269-232 BC) where he refers to Kerala as the kingdom of the Keralaputras, which included Malabar, Cochin and Northern Travancore. This city also has an amazing trading history that dates as far back as 1000 BC when it was a post for doing business in spices, ivory and sandalwood.
History of more recent significance was by the deeds of two illustrious rulers… Maharaja Marthanda Varma (1729-1758) and Maharaja Rama Varma (1758-1798). It was in 1729 that Marthanda Varma founded the princely state of Thiruvithamkoor and made Thiruvananthapuram its capital in 1745. The city has always been a cultural and art center, with the rulers of the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore taking an active interest in the development of art, architecture and education. They were also very liberal minded leaders who abolished slavery and dress-codes allocated to certain sects.
From the royal family itself, there were renowned artists like Maharaja Swati Thirunal, Iravimman Thambi and Raja Ravi Varma. Other famous examples of art, rchitecture and culture can be seen in the world-famous Padmanabhaswamy temple, the Trivandrum Museum and zoo, Attukal temple, Beemapally mosque, Palayam CSI church and the Kowdiar palace.
The Kowdiar palace has great historical importance and with its superb architectural designing, it houses 150 rooms built over 3 floors that used to once resound with the pitter-patter of numerous little feet followed by the harried heavier footsteps of their accompanying nannies. These days, the palace is relatively silent. The Palace is also a perfect example of the Kerala style of architecture and is situated in the heart of Trivandrum. It has wooden lifts and six steeples that can be seen from far and wide. The palace is set in the middle of beautiful lush greenery and has been home to the royal family from numerous generations. The last Raja Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma is buried here in its beautiful gardens. Numerous personal items belonging to earlier royal members are kept on display here but since the palace is currently being occupied by the current erstwhile king of Travancore, visiting times are restricted.
The Kowdiar palace is believed to be the most beautiful palace amongst the various palaces built by the royal family. In 1934, Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal is believed to have built this palace on the occasion of the wedding of his only sister.
Most of the present-day Kowdiar had once belonged to the royal family and till this day, it’s the place where you will find the homes of mostly the rich and powerful, of those who have tasted success in their lives. Lots of great high-end facilities are also available in this area, ranging from modern cafés, exotic restaurants, parks and lot of greenery as well as high-end boutiques selling branded items. A number of builders like the highly-reputed Artech Realtors, have set up luxurious apartment complexes here in this posh area, so more people can have access to the best that Trivandrum city has on offer!
