The extraordinary palatial complex Kuthiramalika which is now one of the most visited museums in Trivandrum was built in the 19th century. It became the residence of the rajahs who moved into the city transferring here the capital of the kingdom.

This beautiful palace with a huge number of rooms and twisted mazes of garden paths was built by rajah Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. He was an appraiser of creative people, a patron of painters and musicians, and a talented poet and composer himself.

He dreamed to build a palace that would incite to create the beautiful and where every corner would inspire and give joy. And he succeeded. 5 000 workers, four years of hard work, and, finally, a true jewel in the elegant South Indian architecture style was completed.

Its second name, the «Mansion of Horses», wasn’t given to Kuthiramalika by chance. If you pay closer attention to the hundreds of wooden pillars that decorate the palace, you will see carvings of 122 rearing horses, a unique example of an unbelievably fine and exquisite stone and wood carving work.

Inside, the palace also strikes with abundance and luxury: ceilings ornamented with floral motifs, magnificent wooden room dividers, highly polished floors.

Nowadays, it houses one of the richest museums of India. Things that belonged to the ruling dynasty are assembled here, and some rooms display the original ancient furniture and decorations. One will be especially dazzled by the collection of paintings put together by the owner of the palace. The chief treasures are two massive thrones made of bohemian crystal.

Because rajah Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma was a musician and a patron to artists, the new museum was decided to support the tradition and arrange a festival of Indian classical music that now takes place in this majestic palace each year. One of the halls of the museum displays antique musical instruments that once were used by the artistic rajah.