Thevally Palace, Kollam

An architectural wonder Thevalley Palace appears like a serpent that slides through the age-old city Kollam. The heritage building has grown under the vigilant eyes of Travancore’s renowned princesses.

Historical background of Thevally Palace:

It was built beside the Lake of Ashtamudi as a British guest house in the nineteenth century. Nowadays, Thevally Palace serves as National Cadet Corps’s (NCC) group office. And, thus it remains under the strict monitoring of PWD (Public Works Department) of Kerala. Due to this, the architectural beauty of this palace remains intact as before. So, whenever you visit Kerala, it is a must-watch.

Visitor Information:

• Popular for – history, scenery, architecture, palace

• No entry fee required

• Visiting time – 10 AM – 4 PM

• Duration of visit – 3-4 hrs.

Traveler Tips:

• Safety should be in your mind while you are on travel. Take your first-aid kit with you.

• Carry comfortable clothes as per the season of visit. Kerala’s climate remains humid generally so, it is advisable to carry loose cotton clothes.

• Carry all necessary id proof documents.

• Visiting through the office hours is preferred as it is NCC’s group office now.

• Don’t carry plastic bags with you.

• Don’t touch the relics inside the palace.

• Don’t carry your pets inside the palace.

• Take your camera with you. The scenic beauty of Ashtamudi Lake and its surroundings offer a mind-blowing view.

Things to do:

• You can plan a family picnic here on the beautiful lawns of the palace which lies between dales and lush green valleys. Options are available with the banks of the Lake too within gorgeous sceneries. Apart from that, there is a placid breezing beside the virgin lake.

• You can go trekking through the dense woods of the forest of Sankhili. The unexplored trails will enthrall you.

• Kollam harbors Amritapuri, the habitat of Mata Amritanandamayi Amma, who is a recognized name in religious Kerala. It’s a real treat for your soul to spend a day here.

• Kodungallor temple is one of the oldest temples of Kollam, which has an interesting historical background.

• Ashttamudi Lake has a wonderful view due to the presence of the Surrounding greenery and of course the Thevally Palace – Kollam.

When to visit the Thevally Palace Kollam:

The summer sun offers an unparalleled touch to the beauty of Kerala and fills it with life. March-May remains summer here. You can also visit during October-February.

You should avoid the monsoons here which generally start in June. Of course, you won’t like to experience flooding and heavy rainfalls during your visit.

How to reach the Thevally Palace:

Kollam is easily accessible through roadways.

By rail: You need to get down at Kollam railway station and then hire a cab to reach the palace by road. Various local transportations are available there including rickshaws and buses.

Interesting facts about the Thevally Palace Kollam:

• The Thevally Palace Kollam is called as a heritage building due to its royal history.

• The royal family of Travancore witnessed the construction of this building.

• The construction of this palace started under the supervision of Gowri Parvati Bayi.

• It was built with the initial motive of accommodating British inhabitants.

• There is a Sastha temple inside the Thevally Palace Kollam

• The building construction has a combination of Portuguese, French, and Dutch architectural elements.

• The combination of palm and coconut woods acts as an envelope-looking background to the palace.

• The distance of the Thevally Palace from the city of Kollam is about 28 km.

• The construction of this building includes laterite and lime plaster which were rare elements then.

Nearby attractions:

Kollam authority claims to be one of the major destinations of Kerala, and they are not wrong at all! It has unparalleled beauty with simplicity. Here are a few other major attractions than the Thevally Palace Kollam 

• Mahatma Gandhi Beach and Park

• Palaruvi Waterfalls

• Ashtamudi Lake

• Oachira Parabhrahma temple

• Amritapuri

• Achankovil Lake

• Thirumullavaram beach

• Thangassery village

• Mayyanadu village

• Cheraman Parambu

• Neendakara port

• Pattazhi

• Achencovil

• Shenduruny wildlife sanctuary

• Kollam police museum

There are lots of stories in the air of Kollam and such is the olden days of this port city. During the times of Travancorean kings, it has remained at the top of political power. Later the Thevally Palace Kollam became a part of their political strategy.

Hence, planning a trip to Kollam will not leave you empty-handed!