Padmanabhapuram Palace Garden

Padmanabhapuram Palace was the home of the rulers of the princely state of Travancore. Padmanabhapuram (City of the Lotus) The oldest parts of the palace date from 1550 and it was rebuilt after 1728. Buildings are linked by corridors, colonnades, verandahs, and courtyards. The use of courtyards and tanks is characteristic of Hindu garden planning and landscape architecture, as are lotus ponds. South India was much less influenced by Islam than North India. The construction materials are teak and granite. The queen mother's house (Thai Kottaram) is round a square court with a shallow pool. See chart of Asian garden design styles.