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INCREDIBLE TOURISM
Kerala Travel
Monuments in Kerala
The
Koyikkal Palace, situated far of away from the city, was actually built for
Umayamma Rani of the Venad royal family who ruled the land between 1677 and
1684. The palace is a double stroreyed traditional nalukettu with slanting gabled
roofs and an inner courtyard. Today, the palace houses a Folklore Museum and
a Numismatics Museum set up by the Department of Archaeology. The Folklore Museum,
a treasure house of quaint musical instruments, occupational implements, household
utensils, models of folk arts etc, was set up in 1992. The exhibits here draw
attention to the rich cultural background of the State. The exhibits include
rare articles like Chandravalayam (not found in any other such museum in Kerala),
a small percussion instrument used as an accompaniment while reciting the ballad
Ramakathappattu (the story of Lord Sree Rama); and Nanthuni , a sweet sounding
musical instrument made of wood and string used while singing the Onappattu
and Nanthunippattu during Onam the harvest festival of Kerala. The Folklore
Museum housed on the first floor of the palace also has a wide range of household
utensils including wooden kitchenware, brass/copperware etc. representing the
lifestyle of the Keralites during different eras. Thaliyola (old manuscripts),
Chilambu (a sort of anklet) used by Umayamma Rani and Maravuri (dress material
made of the bark of trees) etc. are well preserved here. Oorakkudukku a device
for intellectual exercise used by the Yogis as a pastime, Gajalekshmi - a lamp
representing the goddess of prosperity - Lekshmi-seated on her elephant (this
lamp is usually lighted at dusk and during the harvest season to welcome the
goddess) are other interesting exhibits. The Kettuvillakku - a ceremonial lamp
(artistically made out of coloured paper and locally available light wood splits/rails),
lit during festivals at the Bhagavathy temples of southern Kerala; a model of
the most impressive of Theyyams - the Muthappan theyyam , a Patayani kolam model
; the headgear and dress used by Ottanthulal artistes exhibited here give an
insight into the performing as well as the ritual art forms of Kerala. The Numismatics
Museum at the Koyikkal Palace is the only one of its kind in the State. Occupying
the ground floor of the palace, the coins here belong to different parts of
the world as well as to different eras. This rare and historically valuable
collection is a vestige of the trade relation of the State in the bygone ages.
Among the exhibits are some of the oldest coins of Kerala - Ottaputhen, Erattaputhen,
Kaliyugarayan Panam etc. A Venetian coin named Amaida, believed to have been
presented to Jesus Christ, is also a property of this museum. The most valuable
among the Indian coins found here are 'Karsha'. These are nearly 2500 years
old. Rasi, the world's smallest coins are also on display here. Sreekrishna
Rasi, one of the rasis (regional coins) issued by the local kings of Kerala
around the 10th century, Anantharayan Panam - the first modern gold coin of
Travancore in circulation in the 15th and 17th centuries, Kochi Puthen - one
of the coins of the Kochi kingdom which also had variations like Indo-Dutch
Puthen (1782 AD). Lekshmi Varaham - the silver coins minted in Travancore, Rasi
Palaka (the coin board) - a wooden board with small niches used to count small
coins (counting up to 100 to 200 at a time), coin mints etc are preserved here.
Nearly 374 Roman gold coins, each worth up to five hundred thousand rupees today,
depicting Roman gods and goddesses like Venus, Hercules, Mars, Ceres, Genius,
etc and rulers like Hardin (AD 117 - 138) are also among the collection. The
museum also has coins used by various Indian dynasties - the Gwalior royal family,
the Nizam of Hyderabad, Tipu Sultan, Hyder Ali, etc.
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