About Mattanchery Palace :
The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi. The Dutch renovated the Palace in 1663. The palace with a Bhagavathi temple in the central courtyard is built similar to the typical Kerala style mansion, the Nalukettu- the home of the nobility, aristocracy and upper classes; with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard.The double storied palace building which stands by the panoramic Kochi backwaters has a superb collection of murals, collectively covering over 300 sq ft area of its walls. The themes of these murals have been borrowed from the great Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha and mythology and legends about the Hindu gods especially Guruvayurappan. Some murals depict scenes from Kumarasambhavam and other works of the great Sanskrit poet, Kalidasa. Also on exhibit are royal belongings like weapons, swings and furniture, which offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.The eastern rectangular chambers across the rosewood covered main hall is entered through a steep stairway and an entrance porch with finely carved and painted ceiling. The first of the eastern chambers is marked by fabulous scenes of Vishnu and Siva iconography and just beyond it to the left is a small room with an unfinished but bold image of Vishnu as 'Vaikunthanatha'. These are among the latest works in the palace. The Dining Hall has carved wooden ornate ceiling decorated with a series of brass cups. The palace also contains rare examples of traditional Kerala flooring, which looks like polished black marble but is actually a mixture of burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices and egg whites.