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Poonjar
Palace
The Poonjar Palace is a magnificent testimony to the royal luxury of
a bygone era.
An extraordinary royal collection of antiques and exquisite furniture
including a palanquin, a thoni carved out of a single piece of wood
for Ayurvedic massages, huge chandeliers, palm leaf engravings, jewel
boxes, varieties of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (the dancing Siva),
grain measures, statues and weapons embellish the palace. A unique conch
preserved here is taken out once a year for ritualistic purposes.
Near the palace is an amazing facsimile of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple.
The walls of this temple bear sculptures that narrate stories from the
Puranas (the legends of ancient India). The Chuttuvilakku (row of lamps)
carved out on the stonewalls of the Sastha Temple nearby is the most
fascinating thing here. Such rocks cut lamps are rare in India.
Getting there:
Nearest major railway station: Kottayam, about 30 km from Pala.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 76 km from Kottayam
town.
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