Kerala is visited not just for its scenic beauty but also for its history and culture. It is the land of abundant historical and cultural attractions. This costal state is home to diverse landmarks, architecture and culture. The state has a glorious past of being ruled by royal dynasties of Kerala, colonial Portuguese, Jews, Dutch and British and this have inspired many architectural marvels.
Bekal Fort
Situated on the backdrop of Arabian Seashore in Kasaragod district, this majestic monument dates back to 300 years. This is the largest fort of the state spread over 40 acres and shaped like a giant keyhole. The observation towers offer breathtaking view of the fort and the adjacent beach. The nearest airport to the fort is at Mangalore, 50 kilometers away. The nearest railway stations are Kasaragod and Kanjangad.
Dutch Palace
This palace was built by the Portuguese in 1557 and later renovated and owned by the Dutch. The double storied palace stands in the backdrop of panoramic backwaters of Kochi. An exquisite collection of murals, royal possessions like weapons, swings and furniture are also displayed here.
The place is very easily accessible by rail and road and the nearest airport is Cochin International Airport.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Padmanabhapuram Palace is an astounding wooden palace built in 16th century by the Travancore royals. The palace is the reminiscence of royal splendor of Travancore in the period of 1550 to 1750 AD. The interiors are intricately designed with floral designs, rosewood carvings and sculptured décor, mahogany, windows with colored mica, and royal chairs with Chinese carvings.
The nearest airport to the palace is Trivandrum International airport which is 52 km away and nearest railway station is in Nagarcoil about 16 kilometers away.
Hill Palace
The Hill Palace was built and inhabited by the royal family of Cochin. The palace is noted for royal collections of Maharaja of Kochi, the jewelry collections and the grand architecture. The palace built in 1865, consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architecture sprawled over 56 acres. The Hill Palace is situated at Thripunithura in Kochi and the nearest airport is Cochin International Airport and the nearest railways station is Ernakulam Railway station.
Thalassery Fort
Thalassery fort is situated in Thalassery of Kannur district. Standing as the monument of colonialism the fort was the military center of British rule on the Malabar Coast. The British have constructed this fort with carved doors, secret tunnels and two underground chambers and tunnel that leads to the Arabian Sea.
The nearest airport to the fort is Calicut International Airport which is 96 kilometers away and the nearest railway station is only 900 meters away.
Jewish Synagogue
Kerala is one of the few places the Jewish community settled in India. Jewish Synagogue or Paradesi synagogue is a major historical monument in Kerala. The place of worship is one of the oldest existing synagogues in the world. The synagogue has unique handmade Chinese tiles, Belgian glass, 4th century copper plates, souvenirs and records of history and culture of the region.
The nearest railway station to the Synagogue is 10 kilometers away and the nearest airport is Cochin International Airport.
Palakkad Fort
Palakkad Fort also known as Tippu’s fort is located in the district of Palakkad in Kerala. The fort was built by Hyder Ali, father of Tippu sultan when he captured the northern regions of Kerala. The fort was captured from Tippu’s forces by the British forces and the fort preserves that history on its walls. Fort is at the center of Palakkad town. Palakkad railway station is the nearest railway station and. The nearest airport is Coimbatore airport which is 55 kilometers.