In Kerala and throughout the city, palaces in Kollam are popular tourist sites. British Residency, China Palace, Sri Moolam Thirunal Palace, and a number of other palaces and political mansions can be found in Kollam. Some of them are here.
Thevally Palace
A houseboat ride on the glistening waters of Ashtamudi Lake will take you to the stately ‘Thevally Palace,’ which is around 25 kilometres from Kollam. This immensely popular historic edifice was previously the residence of the King of Travancore and was built between 1811 and 1819. Thevally Palace in Kollam, considered one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture, was built during the reign of Gauri Parvati Bai. The structure was afterwards used as a meeting area for the kings and British officials. This magnificent structure is surrounded by lush green coconut grooves and palm trees, attracting a significant number of tourists from all over the country.
This lovely palace is situated on the banks of Ashatamudi Lake and gives a panoramic view of the surrounding villages, which are surrounded by dense coconut plantations. The Indian Army and the Public Works Department currently occupy the Thevally Palace in Kollam. This palace’s architecture is a fusion of British, Dutch, and Portuguese elements, reflecting the royal reign’s former splendour. The entire edifice is composed of lime plaster and laterite to give it a fine polish, and it also includes a shrine dedicated to Lord Sastha.
Sardar Vallabhai Patel Police Museum
If you wish to learn about the history and growth of the Kerala Police Force, go to the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Police Museum in Kollam to see police weapons from the 18th and 19th centuries. This incredible exhibition exhibits a wide range of police arms used during the 18th and 19th centuries, including guns, machinery, snaps of police dogs, weaponry, and medals awarded to officers. This museum is located within the premises of the east police station, directly across from the Kollam Railway Station. The Martyr’s Gallery is the museum’s main attraction, and it has guns, bullets, machines, weapons, police arms, and ammunition from the 18th and 19th centuries. All of these relics are housed in a historic mansion with four courtyards, one of which displays investigation information such as fingerprints, DNA testing, police dog snaps, and medals.
Another famous feature of this museum is the natural disaster area, which houses devastating photographs of the Kollam Tsunami and images of the Malanada Fireworks catastrophe. Except on Sundays, the museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. So, if you want to learn more about the Kerala Police Department, pay a visit to the fascinating galleries of this well-known museum.
British Residency bungalow
British Residency Bungalow, also known as the Government Guest House or Residency Bungalow, was a house of operation for British army commanders and political leaders of British ancestry during the administration of the British East India Company and the British Government in India. During the colonial period, the British established many Government Guest Houses in the princely kingdoms where the British Resident would stay and entertain visiting dignitaries, acting as a liaison between the British government and the king. The Residency Bungalow is a two-story residence on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake in Aashramom (also Asramam).
cheena kottaram (china palace)
Cheena Kottaram, also known as China Palace, is a Kollam rest house. This palace was built in 1904 for Sri Mulam Tirunal Rama Varma, the then-King of Travancore. Its completion coincided with the commissioning of the Kollam-Sengottai branch line. It is a seven-room, single-story red-brick structure. Cheena Kottaram’s architecture is Indo-Saracenic, which means it’s a mix of Indian, European, Islamic, and Moorish styles.