The southwestern Indian state of Kerala is rich in a variety of architectural wonders, built at different times. One such famous attractions is the Mattancherry Palace, better known as Dutch Palace, located in the city of Kochi.

It was built by the Portuguese mission in the distant 1555 as a gift to the Raja Fans Kerala Varma. Later, in 1663, the Dutch East India company made some adjustments and additions to the plan of the construction, and since then it got the name "Dutch". Subsequently, the Palace was rebuilt many times and reconstructed, since the territory then passed into the possession of the Mysore rulers, the British.

The Palace is a large quadrangular building, built in fairly typical for the state-style – nalukettu – with a large courtyard in the center of which stands a small temple in honor of Pazhayannur Bhagavati (this goddess was considered as the patroness of the Royal family of Kochi). Besides, the territory of the Palace there are two temples dedicated to the gods Shiva and Krishna.

Externally, the Palace is not very impressive, but its frescoes and wall paintings that really makes you admire the skill of the artists who created them. These frescoes are painted in the traditional Indian style temples, in warm colours, mainly on religious themes.

Of particular interest is the Royal bedchamber. It occupies the South-Western part of the Palace, and all its walls and ceiling covered with paintings – there just 48 depicts scenes from the Ramayana.

At the moment, in the Palace of Mattancherry can be located to visit an art gallery there, which is an exhibition dedicated to the rulers of Kochi / Cochin.