The legendary kings of Venad ruled from this magnificent 16th century wooden palace. The Padmanabhapuram Palace, 60 km from Trivandrum, is now within the state of Tamil Nadu but it was once the traditional home of the royal family of Travancore, so it is maintained by the Kerala government.

The palace is one of the best examples of the traditional wooden architecture of Kerala. Such stately homes were decorated with carved wooden ceilings, curved and slatted shuttered windows, intricate interlocking beams for the roof, sculpted door panels and pagoda like tiled roofs. Intricate carvings and murals and exquisite wall paintings reflect the prolific talent of the sculptors and painters of the olden times.