Explore the World Beauty
The cultural evidence of any country is best explored in its architectural structure. The style in which these monuments are constructed, decorated and designed not only speaks about the artistic and technical aspects of the craftsmen but also the visions and aspirations of the modular. The architectures also reflects the human enterprise meeting the changing social necessity of the human being. Kerala is abided by many of the exotic architectural constructions like tombs, temples, caves, Palaces, houses, public buildings and churches. The architectural construction mainly nestles from simplicity of functional and form perfection. The styles of Nalukettu is world famous as all the houses made have exact knowledge of Vaastu Shastra also known as the Indian science of Architecture. Most of the artifacts present here depict some or the other blend of culture with beautiful stone carvings and paintings.
The characteristic of the architecture in Kerala results from the historic, geographical and climatic factors. Geographically the state of Kerala is a land with narrow strip between the seaboard of the peninsular India and the confined Western Ghats and the extended Arabian Sea. This state is favored by bright sunshines and heavy rainfall, this land is rich in vegetation and animal life. The human habitants are distributed evenly in the high and low lands. The architecture in this region is evenly merged with nature. The construction of the houses mainly depends upon the climatic conditions of the area.
The materials used in the construction include laterite, especially used for the construction of walls. Initially the roofs of the structures used to be covered with palm leaf and later were replaced with thatched concrete roofs. The stonework was used for major buildings. You can see the exotic mural paintings with the help of vegetables dyes on the walls of the ancient palaces and temples. The Transformation from the natural dwelling to the concrete one is the key feature of the style practiced in Kerala.
The tombs of the early Aryans had left a mark on the architecture style of the ancient artifacts. The evolution of the traditional culture in Kerala is closely attached to the Temple architecture. There are many buildings that belong to the type of Nalukettu type. But now many of them are not in good condition. There are many examples of the Nalukettu style of architecture like the Kailasa temple that is situated at Kottakkal, which is a three storeyed, and a live example of the Nalukettu style. Mattancherry Temple that is located at Kochi also belongs to the same style, the Thai Kottaram located at Padmanabhapuram are the best works when it comes to the states cultural architecture.
Now as the foreign invaders had also left their marks, the Jewish culture has influenced many social and cultural groups. The extended sea had provided with many trade opportunities with nations like Arabia, China, Rome and Israel. There were many old ports conducted like the Makotai port. The Jewish are one of the most traded settlements here as they were highly concentrated in the area of Kodungallur, coastal areas and Kochi. The type of construction which they prefer is quite different from the one in India the ground floor of the building is used as the shops and warehouses, the first floor is used as the living rooms. The other buildings facing the roads are connected as in the row houses.
The Islamic Architecture had a great impact as the Arabs came to this land in the name of trades. The first mosque of Kerala as constructed at Kodungallur. Nowadays the trends of the architecture has changed giving a very different dynamic approach to the culture as it is influenced by the modern style and the ancient structures. All the architectures have some kind of interesting expression of the social value yet there is some kind of diversity in the Climate, and aesthetic values. Local materials.
Kerala is one of the unique state that has natural wealth in abundance. Kerala is known for the eternal beauty and is known to be Gods own country as it is so beautiful that it is said that Gods rule this land. Now about the architecture, this land was ruled by many rulers and each and every Culture has left its presence here. The architecture of this state is a unique mixture of Indian and Foreign culture. The Pacific Rim; The South East Asia has a great impact on the architectural style of Kerala. The reflection of external influences is seen in the architecture of Kerala with coconut frond construction, wood construction and gabled roofs construction. The Nalukettu is a unique structure that is layed by utility structures and out houses.
The conventional houses of the Keralites are constructed according to the principles of Vastu Shastra also known as the Indian science of architecture Thachusasthram, also called as the science of carpentry.
The most magnificent and exotic piece of architecture is the Nalukettu, known to be the ancient dwelling place of the Nair’s and Brahmin family also known as the feudal joint families (Tharavadu). The entrance is known as the Padippura which is a gabled entrance. The pattern of architecture is very attractive and was the main dwelling place of the feudal Kerala.
The Napier Museum and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Arakkal palace-Kannur, The Kolathiri Palace- Chirakkal, the Bolgatty Palace are some of the best architectures of Kerala.
Architectural Style: Thachu Shastra (The science of Architecture) Popular Monuments: Krishnapuram Palace, Dutch Palace etc. The Nalukettu is the conventional form of architecture of this state, where the shape of the house is in tetragon shape. Originally, this was the dwelling place of the rich Nair and Brahmin family. But nowadays this type of architecture …