221. A trip to my native.

I traveled to my native by bus.  I reached there and saw my grandma and grandpa waiting there for us.  We went home and enjoyed there.  Then, after some days, I went to my paternal grandma's house at Padmanabhapuram. 

Padmanabhapuram Palace

I went to Padmanabhapuram and stayed there for a few days.  I read books when it is boring and in the meantime I play with my friends.  Then one day, I went to Padmanabhapuram Palace which was near our house.  

                                         

First, in the entrance, we saw the King's cot and a chair gifted by the Chinese to the King.  Now - a - days, we send and receive greeting cards on special occasions.  On those days, Kings receive ladder - like things as greeting cards.  

                                        

Then we went upstairs.  There we saw the King's conference room.  On top, there were nine lotuses.  In the middle one, there was Goddess Gajalakshmi. The King made decisions witnessing her.

                                       

                                                   
Then we saw the Pooja Room.  That was the place for writing poems, letters, etc.  On top, there were 63 flowers.  62 of them had 2 layers.  The middle one had 3 layers.  There were 4 layers in the post.  Each one of them were in different shapes.  The post was made of 1 jack fruit tree.

                                     

                                                   

Then we saw the Ottupura (Dining hall).  On those days, the King daily gives food to Brahmans.  Daily, there were 2000 people.  1000 people sit on the upper part and the other 1000 sit on the lower part.    

                                    

We must give pickle for those 2000 people, right?  So, there were very large jars.  

                                     

Then, there was the Ambari.  It was a chair.  In the steps, there are two elephant heads on the two sides.  Sitting there only, the King heard the people's complaints and enjoyed the Temple functions seeing them through the window. 

                                                                                         
Then, there was the dance floor.  The Queens enjoy seeing them through small openings.  

                                     

Then came the King's toilets.  It was not like now - a - days western toilets.  It was made of stone.

                                   

There was a room for foreigners.  There were also toilets.

                                  

Then came the Queens' dress - up rooms.  There were a swing and a mirror. The Queens sit on the swing and make up.  There were pictures based on Lord Krishna's life in that room.  The paintings were made of fruits and leaves juices. But it was like modern paintings!

                                     

                                                    

There were pictures of Kings.  Then was the room for the King's mother.  There was her bed.  

                                      

                                                      

Then came the Thai Kottaram.  It was 450 years old.  It was the oldest room in the palace.  The whole palace was 300 years old.  

                                      

Then came the Thekke Kottaram.  It was on the other side of the palace.  This was the place given for the retired King.  There was an easy chair, a walking stick, a gramophone, a table some books, etc.  There was also a room for the King's sister and her new born son.  There was a kitchen.  There were many hurricane lamps of that time.  Those things were very beautiful.

                                     

                                                 

Then came the Lakshmipuram Kottaram.  It was built by King Chithira Thirunal for his mother.  It was only eighty years old.  But it looked liked 150 years old.

                                       

Then was the museum.  There were weapons the Kings used.  We went to another museum.  There were sculptures of Gods and Goddesses.

                                        

                                                        

In the palace, some floors were locked because they were damaged.  A Malayalam film named Manichitra Thazh (the remake of the Tamil movie Chandramukhi) was taken in this palace.  It was a very very beautiful palace after all.   

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