Kowdiar Palace

Kowdiar Palace is a royal residence in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala state in southern India. The compound holds 150 rooms with sloping roofs, carved wooden panels, and open verandas following local building traditions.

Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma commissioned the palace in 1931 for his sister's wedding to Lieutenant Colonel Godavarma Raja. The Travancore royal family continues to live here as a private residence today.

The name Kowdiar comes from the neighborhood that has long been associated with the royal household. The rooms display carved wooden elements and traditional roof construction found in older manor houses across Kerala.

The estate lies roughly 13 kilometers from the airport and remains closed to visitors as a private home. The surrounding area can be viewed from outside, while the interior spaces are not accessible.

The entrance gate shows finely worked carvings that mark the transition into wide gardens. These green spaces surround the entire grounds and form a quiet setting for the architecture.

Inception: 1931

Creator: Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma

Architectural style: architecture of Kerala

Part of: Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor

GPS coordinates: 8.52398,76.96343

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:10