Neerazhi Palace
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Architecture of Kerala Dravidiyan Style
| Neerazhi Palace നീരാഴി കൊട്ടാരം | |
|---|---|
 Flag of Thekkumkur Dynasty | |
  Location within Kerala | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Eattukettu Architecture of Kerala Dravidiyan Style |
| Location | Puzhavathu, Changanassery in Kottayam district, India |
| Coordinates | 9°28′00″N 76°33′00″E / 9.466667°N 76.55°E |
| Construction started | 15th century |
| Client | Kotha Varman Manikandan built in the 15th century (1408 - 1440 AD) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Laterite stone, rubble, teak, rosewood and Angili wood |
| Size | Originally 1.23 acres (0.50 ha) |
Neerazhi Palace (Malayalam: നീരാഴി കൊട്ടാരം) was the royal palace of the Thekkumkur kingdom. Palace is located at Puzhavathu in Changanassery.[1] The palace was used by the Thekkumkur dynasty until 1750 and later by the Parappanad dynasty who settled in Changanassery from Malabar Region (present-day Parappanangadi).[2] It was here that the last king of Thekkumkur, Aditya Varman Manikandan escaped to Nattassery of Kottayam in the Travancore invasion of 1790 (Battle of Changanassery).[3] The Neerazhi palace was earlier known as Neerazhikettu.[4]
In the early eighteenth century, the capital of Thekkumkur shifted to Puzhavathu in Changanassery after Vennimala,[5] Manikandapuram and others. The last king of Thekkumkur was Aditya Verma Manikandan and he resided in the Neerazhi Palace at Puzhavathu. Thekkumkur army provided assistance to counter Travancore's invasion of princely state Champakassery (Purakkad) and Odanad (Kayamkulam). Realizing this, King Marthanda Varma decided to invade Thekkumkoor following the fall of Champakassery (Ampalapuzha).[6][7] The Thekkumkur fort and the Neerazhi palace were attacked in September 1750 in the Battle of Changanassery by Travancore military.[8] The Vazhappally Pathillathil Potimar (administrator of Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple) assisted the Thekkumkur king in the Neerazhi Palace and transferred him to Nattassery at Kottayam. After the Battle of Changanassery, the king was placed at Nattassery in Kottayam.[9]
