Koikkal Palace in Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram which has been closed down since 4 years for renovation works has opened its gates to the public. The palace, which houses a numismatics museum and an Ardhanareeshwara temple which is now run by Travancore Devaswom Board, is located near the Nedumangad Police Station.
The two storey structure with sloping gabled roofs and spacious rooms laid out around an open central courtyard was built for regent queen Umayamma Rani of the Venad Royal Family in the 17th century.
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Kadakampalli Ramachandran, State Minister for Archaeology and Archives, on the opening ceremony of the renovated palace and museum, said that the government had given administrative sanction for Rs.66 lakh for the second phase renovation works.
The Minister said,”Heritage museums are the symbols of the bygone era and the young generation should show interest in learning about the cultural heritage of the country”.
The first copy of a brochure on the palace museum was handed over by the Minister to Chettachal Sahadevan, Chairman, Nedumangad Municipal Corporation.C.Divakaran, another lawmaker present at the function emphasised on implementing a proper security system in the museum which had rare ancient coins and priceless folklore objects. He also suggested setting up of a research centre which would enable scholars around the world to come and study heritage of the region.
Since 1992, the heritage museum has been functioning at the palace. The gallery there contains a rare collection of coins used in different civilizations, including the ancient Roman ones. This throws light into the international trade relations that existed in the region during ancient times. The museum also stores folklore fripperies, ancient domestic equipment, traditional and quaint music instruments, weapons and a wide range of other objects of antiquity.
The renovation of the Palace and Museum was one by Keralam- Museum of History and Heritage, the nodal agency of the Kerala Government for such type of renovation works.
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