ENVIRONMENT: 416 year old, King`s palace- owned and maintained by Government of Kerala

http://archaeology.kerala.gov.in/index.php/2015-02-28-07-03-46/palace/padmanabhapuram-palace

Padmanabhapuram is the former capital city of the erstwhile Hindu Kingdom of Travancore.The palace was constructed around 1601 AD by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Venad between 1592 and 1609. It is owned and maintained by the Government Of Kerala

The Padamnabhapuram Palace complex has several other interesting features:

The palace is located near Thuckalay, Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu state but administered by the Government of Kerala state.
The clock tower in the palace complex has a 300-year-old clock, which still keeps time.
A big hall now bare, which can accommodate around 1000 guests, and where ceremonial feasts were held, on auspicious occasions.
A secret passage, now blocked, through which the king, his immediate family members, and their entourage could escape to another palace, located several kilometers away in the event of any emergency. Name of this palace is Charottu kottaram.
A flight of steps leads to a bathing pond, which has lost its freshness due to neglect and years of disuse.
The palace complex also has a section of curios and several interesting objects:

An entire room filled with old Chinese jars, all gifts by Chinese merchants.
A variety of weapons (which were actually used in warfare), including swords and daggers.
Brass lamps, wood and stone sculpture, a variety of furniture and large mirrors made of polished metal.
A gallery of paintings depicting incidents from the history of Travancore.
A wooden cot made of up to 64 wooden pieces of a variety of medicinal tree trunks
Polished stone cot, meant for cool effect
Toilet and well

ENVIRONMENT