Padmanabhapuram Palace in draft list of of UNESCO world heritage sites.

The Padmanabhapuram Palace

The Padmanabhapuram Palace at Thakkala has been included in the draft list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

Cultural Affairs Minister K.C. Joseph said here on Wednesday that the notification about the draft list had been received by the government.

The decision to include the palace in the draft list was taken by the advisory committee on world heritage sites which met in New Delhi on April 15. Mr. Joseph said the committee had promised to consider the Edakkal caves in Wayanad for inclusion in the next list of world heritage sites.

The Minister said the government had submitted an application along with a report to the committee seeking inclusion of the Padmanabhapuram Palace and Edakkal caves in the list of global heritage sites. Predominantly made of wood, the 500-year-old palace is constructed in the Kerala style of architecture. The Edakkal caves are known for the prehistoric rock etchings.

A pressnote quoting the Minister said Kerala had submitted research papers to substantiate the nomination of the two monuments to UNESCO’s world heritage list. Archaeologist Elizabeth Thomas had been appointed special officer in charge of coordinating activities for the nomination, it said.

Dating back to the Travancore era, the Padmanabhapuram palace is located in Tamil Nadu but administered by the Government of Kerala.

The palace complex has several structures, including a council chamber, queen mother’s palace, performance hall, central mansion and southern palace.

It hosts ancient Chinese jars, ancient weapons of war, antique furniture, metal mirrors, a gallery of paintings, and wood and stone sculptures.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/