The renovated Koyikkal Palace at Nedumangad, once the official residence of the Perakam line of the erstwhile ruling family of Venad, was inaugurated here on Wednesday.
The three-century-old double-storeyed palace, with a traditional ‘naalukettu’ (open central courtyard) and sloping gabled roofs, had been closed for renovation for the past four years. Located on nearly two acres of land, the palace houses the Department of Archaeology’s numismatics museum and a folklore museum.
Since the Archaeology Department took over its upkeep in 1980, the palace has been a stopover for tourists visiting Ponmudi and on the itinerary of guided tours.
Minister for Archaeology Kadannappally Ramachandran, who opened the renovated palace and museum, said the State government had given administrative sanction for ₹66 lakh for the second-phase renovation of the palace. “Heritage museums are the symbols of a bygone era, and the young generation should show interest in learning about the cultural heritage of the country,” he said.
He also released a brochure on the museum by handing over a copy to Chettachal Sahadevan, chairperson of the Nedumangad municipal corporation.
C. Divakaran, MLA, who presided over the function, said the palace needed a good security system as the museum had a rare collection of coins and invaluable artefacts. He also mooted a research centre at the palace for scholars from around the world to come and study the heritage of the region.
Funds for project
Archaeology Director J. Rejikumar was present. A report on the renovation presented on the occasion said the State had submitted an estimate of ₹5 crore to the Union government for the project, but the entire amount was not sanctioned.
The State provided ₹3.49 crore for the work in 2013, of which ₹2.25 crore had been spent.
The renovation was conducted by Keralam-Museum of History and Heritage, the nodal agency of the State government for such work.
An impressive collection of coins, household utensils, musical instruments, weapons, and other artefacts can be viewed at the palace.
