Ruined 500 year old palace at Eraniel, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu

Floral motif on a stone pillar

Staircase to the upper floor

Nadu mittam - Central Courtyard

Verandah

Ruined 500 year old palace at Eraniel - 1

Eraniel is situated about 50 Kms from Trivandrum and 15 Kms from Nagerkoil, in Tamil Nadu. The palace was believed to be built by Marthanada Varma of the Venad Dyansty ( precursor to Travancore) about 500 years ago. After the the consturction of the nearby (5 kms) Padmanabhapuram Palace the capital was shifted there, but Eraniel continued to be a sub capital. The structure is dilapidated and nearly completely ruined due to ignorance, indifference and vandalism. Peridiocally, one hears about restoration plans by different agencies but nothing has happened on the ground. Any further delay will mean complete loss of this piece of heritage.
What a shame!



Entrance to the Palace


The roof and rafters


Royal Bed


Crumbling woodworks