Tourism > India > Kerala > Districts > Kottayam > Poonjar

Poonjar

Poonjar is a small town in the Kottayam district of Kerala state, India. Before the independence of India, Poonjar had been the capital of the Poonjar Koyikkal Swaroopam.

Poonjar is one of the 140 legislative assembly constituencies of the Kerala state.

Actually the place poonjar is now known as panachikappara. Poonjar thekkekkara is now known as Poonjar. One main part of the Meenachil river starts from Poonjar.

S.M.V. Higher Secondary school and St.Antonys Higher Secondary school are the main higher secondary schools in Poonjar.

Poonjar Palace

The Poonjar palace is a glorious testimony to the regal opulence of a bygone era. Within the palace walls is an extraordinary royal collection of antiques and exquisite furniture including a palanquin, a thoni - carved out of a single piece of wood - for Ayurvedic massages, huge chandeliers, palm leaf engravings, jewel boxes, varieties of lamps, sculptures of Nataraja (the dancing Siva), grain measures, statues and weapons. A unique conch preserved here is taken out once a year for ritualistic purposes.

Near the palace is an amazing replica of the Madurai Meenakshi temple. The walls of this temple bear sculptures that narrate stories from the Puranas (the legends of ancient India). However, the most fascinating thing here is the Chuttuvilakku (row of lamps) carved out on the stonewalls of the Sastha temple nearby. Such rocks cut lamps are rare in India.

Poonjar Palace Attractions

• Royal collection of antiques
• rock cut lamps
• sculptures