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| 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 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.
