3 Best Sights in Kerala, India

Built by the Portuguese in the mid-16th century as a gift for the Rajas of Cochin, this two-story structure reflects elements of traditional design while still looking colonial. It was extended by the Dutch when they took control of the area. The rajas, in turn, added some of India's best mythological murals—the entire story of the Ramayana is told on the walls in a series of bedchambers, which also have inviting window seats. In the ladies' ground-floor chamber, you can see a colorful, mildly erotic depiction of Lord Krishna with his female devotees. The coronation hall near the entrance holds a series of portraits of monarchs (that interestingly show continuous familial resemblance) and some of the rajas' artifacts, including maps, swords, and a fantastic palanquin covered in red wool. The palace has rare, traditional Kerala flooring; it looks like polished black marble, but it is actually a mix of burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices, and egg whites.

The 18th-century Kuthiramalika (Puthen Maliga) Palace Museum, or Horse Palace, built by the king of Travancore, has carved rosewood ceilings and treasures of the royal family, including an ivory throne, weapons, paintings, and gifts from foreign dignitaries. Life-size Kathakali figures stand in the dance room. Carved horses, for which the palace is named, line the eaves of an inner courtyard. Only one-third of the enormous compound is open to visitors; the entrance fee includes a knowledgeable guide. Also note that you must remove your shoes upon entering.

Believed to be the largest wooden palace in Asia, this magnificent, 17th-century, carved-teak palace, set on nearly 7 acres, and with fantastic murals and carved and painted ceilings, is across the border in neighboring Tamil Nadu, about a 1½-hour (73 km [45 miles]) drive south of Kovalam on National Highway 47 in a very serene location at the foot of the Velli Hills. Padmanabhapuram was once the capital of the Travancore rajas (Travancore was the southernmost state, which was combined with Cochin and Malabar to form Kerala). This palace, their home, gives a taste of the grandeur of those times. Don't miss the brass lanterns that apparently have been lit since the 1700s, or the palace tank (reservoir) that was used for bathing. This huge complex is one of the best-preserved examples of old wooden architecture in India and worth the excursion, especially if you are a royalty or history buff.