Eraniel Palace Ruins, Eraniel, Kanyakumari
Eraniel
Palace Ruins is a small palace ruins located at Eraniel in Kanyakumari District
of Tamilnadu. The Eraniel palace
is regarded as a treasure house of the Venadu history but its present state is
a pale shadow of its glorious past. The palace compound which spreads over
slightly more than three-and-one-half acres only now consists of three
identifiable parts – the Padippura or the majestic entrance way (now in total
ruins), the main palace (also called Kuthiramalika) and the vasanthamandapam
(spring pavilion). The palace, now under the control of Hindu Religious and
Charitable Endowment Department of the State government, has traditional
architectural characters from temple architecture of south India.
Its
notable features are low-tiled roofs, structures with central court yard
(nadumuttam) and gable windows. According to sources in the Kerala government’s
Archaeology Department, Cheran Perumal, the most famous ruler of the Chera
dynasty of the 8th century A.D., was said to have constructed the Eraniel
palace and fort. Eraniel today is a nondescript town-panchayat in Kanyakumari
district, Tamil Nadu. The ruins of an old palace and a few ancient temples
strewn across the landscape are perhaps the only pointers to the rich culture
of the region.
History
The
historic province of Eraniel has a hoary past for it was under the sway of
powerful ruling factions such as the Ays, Pandyas, Cheras, and Cholas, before
it came under the control of the Venadu rulers. Eraniel also served as a
seasonal capital of the Venadu rulers during the medieval age, before the fort
and palace at Padmanabhapuram was established. Records show that during the
sixteenth century, Eraniel was well-connected to the nearby ports at Muttam and
Colachel and became a political and commercial hub of renown.
Cheraman
Perumal Nayanar, who lived in the 8th Century A.D., is said to have constructed
a palace and a fort here. Later, the Venadu dynasty kings are said to have
lived here. There is no evidence about when this Palace at Eraniel was
constructed. Yet it is believed that the construction might have been took
place around 500 years back, during the reign of Maharaja Vanchi Marthanda
Varma of the Venadu Dynasty. In 1601, during the reign of King Ravi Varma
Kulasekhara, the Padmanabhapuram Palace construction was completed.
At that
time, the Capital was shifted from Eraniel to Padmanabhapuram and Eraniel was
kept as second capital. Eraniel finds mention in modern Travancore history, for it was from Eraniel that Velayudham Thampi (later
Velu Thampi, the Dalawa) of Thalakulathu Valiya Veedu organised the local
chiefs and farmers and instigated a revolt against the despotic rule of King
Raja Balarama Varma and his Minister Jayanthan Sankaran Nampoothiri. One of the
streets in Eraniel is called ‘Padayetti Theru’ as it was from there that Velu
Thampi led an army to take on the British.
On
re-organization of States in 1956, the Kanyakumari district became part of Tamil Nadu and the
Eraniel palace and its fort came under the control of Devasom Board. The palace
was used as Godown for some years and this hastened its dilapidation. Eraniel,
known as Ranasinganallur (‘the town of Ranasinga’) was a fertile agricultural
belt akin to Nanjilnadu. ‘Eraniel Chambavu,’ the superior variety of paddy
produced from the region, was much sought after in olden days. Eraniel was also
home to a clan of skilled weavers who manufactured the fine ‘Eraniel Neriyath.’
According
to oral tradition, these weavers were specially accommodated in the region to
supply ‘Chitrapada pattu’ worn by the royals during a coronation ceremony.
Apart from these, the inscriptions at Thirunanthikarai temple point to the
existence of ‘Thalakulathu Salai,’ an educational centre near Eraniel.
The
Palace Ruins
The
palace compound which spreads over slightly more than three-and-one-half acres
only now consists of three identifiable parts – the Padippura or the majestic
entrance way (now in total ruins), the main palace (also called Kuthiramalika)
and the vasanthamandapam (spring pavilion). The complex with a two-storey
palace having a central courtyard, four rooms and a kitchen and having a roof
made of wooden rafters and Mangalore tiles. Also, it is said that there is a
tunnel from this Palace which connects the Padmanabhapuram Palace.
The
Palace reflects a magnificent building technology adorned with carvings and
murals. The palace complex, though not extensive as in Padmanabhapuram and
Thiruvananthapuram, had a modest double storied courtyard house, the main
residential unit. The access to the complex was through a flight of steps. The
Padippura opened to the inner yard with a pillared walkway that connected to
the Poomugham. The compound also had a pond, its sides neatly lined with
dressed granite blocks.
At the
entrance is the visitor’s hall (yogamuri). It was where the then kings met
select visitors. Beyond this is the inner hall (agathalam), guard’s room, and
kitchen. The Vasantha Mandapam, a detached pavilion situated in an elevated
platform on the western side of the complex is adorned with beautiful carvings.
There is a Single Stone Cot of five-foot width and six-foot length called as
“Ottakkal Kattil” in the Vasantha Mandapam. It is remarkable for its rich
carvings. There was a ‘Vaada Vilakku’, an ever-burning light, in the Vasantha Mandapam.
According
to popular tradition, the ornate stone couch in the pavilion has a fascinating
story. Emily Gilchriest Hatch, the author of ‘Travancore – A Guide Book for the
Visitor’ (1933) states: “It is said that while sleeping on this couch one of
the old ruling princes suddenly disappeared from sight. In some miraculous
fashion, he became invisible and was never heard of thereafter.” The story,
though lacking historic evidence, was deeply rooted amongst the locals. Hatch
mentions that a lamp was kept burning beside the couch, through the centuries,
as a memorial to the miraculous incident.
The
palace was only an administrative office of the then kings but not the
residential palace as their royal residence – Padmanabhapuram palace – was
hardly five km from Eraniel. There is a total of 36 wooden carvings of warriors
seated on horses and elephants, men fighting tigers, a king visiting the city,
and the king watching dance performers all along the ceiling of the 80.98 sq. m
mandapam. Besides the chambers in the palace, there is a small tank for the
royal bath and a secret tunnel for emergency escape.
There
were 23 tamarind trees on the premises of the palace. Of them, tamarind from
one tree was very sweet and it was said to be used for the Kings. The sorry
state of the ancient palace complex can be attributed to the development of
Padmanabhapuram and Thiruvananthapuram as strongholds of the Travancore
royalty. With the shifting of the capital, the old palaces in the Southern
provinces were less frequently occupied. Some sources mention that in the
post-independence period, Eraniel palace was used as a go down. The later years
of neglect by the authorities catalyzed the disintegration of this valuable
heritage.
Connectivity
Eraniel
Palace Ruins is located at about 500 meters from Eraniel Bus Stop, 2 Kms from
Eraniel Railway Station, 2 Kms from Thingal Nagar, 5 Kms from Thuckalay, 8 Kms
from Colachel, 7 Kms from Padmanabhapuram, 14 Kms from Nagercoil, 34 Kms from Kanyakumari,
18 Kms from Marthandam and 67 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. All buses from
Thingalnagar bus stand will pass through Eraniel. For every 5 minutes, you
have buses to Nagercoil & For every 15 minutes you have buses to
Thuckalay. Many buses run from Nagercoil via Eraniel. All the buses stop at
Eraniel, there are also buses to Chennai from Eraniel.
Eraniel
railway station (comes under Trivandrum Railway Division) Ananthapuri Exp (Time: 17:15 towards Chennai) (Trivandrum to Chennai), Island
Exp to Bangalore, Guruvayur to Chennai Mail, Kanya Kumari to Mumbai cst exp
will stop at this station. Daily it has local trains from Nagercoil to
Trivandrum also stopping at Eraniel. Nearest Airport is located at
Thiruvananthapuram (67 Kms).
