Where can one find Kollengode Palace? In Thrissur or Palakkad? If the original one is surely in Palakkad, why then do we have another one just like that in Thrissur? That's what we are trying to figure out- about Thrissur's Kollengode palace.
A father's gift to his daughter
Vasudeva Raja, the Raja of Kollengode had the palace constructed in 1904, which he gifted to his daughter. The palace is known as Kollengode House. An architectural beauty, the structure, especially its insides, combines the best elements of Kerala vaastu sastra and the elegance of western style.
The large and wide wooden windows and sloping roofs remind one of colonial grandeur.
A museum today
The palace built during the British rule, and once owned by the Kollengode royalty for years, houses the Museum of Mural Arts today. The department of archaeology took over the building in 1975 and converted it into the District Heritage Museum. In 2009, the Museum of Mural Arts also became a part of the palace.
The museum has a rare collection of artefacts pertaining to royalty, including the personal and artistic collections of Vasudeva Raja. It houses a wide collection of mural paintings, ancient manuscripts and stone engravings.
