Marthandeeswarar Eraniel

Marthandeeswarar Eraniel is an ancient temple built by King Vanchi Marthanda Varma while visiting and living in the palace opposite the temple. Eraniel was once the Capital of the Venad Dynasty. Eraniel is the corrupted name of Hiranyasimhanalloor. Though there is no record of when the palace was built, it is believed that it could have been constructed about 500 years back. In 1601, during the reign of King Ravi Varma Kulashekhara, the Padmanabhapuram Palace was completed and the Capital was shifted from Eraniel to Padmanabhapuram. During 1799, Velu Thambi Dalawa started a riot from this Eraniel Palace against King Raja Balarama Varma and his Minister Jayanthan Shankaran Nampoothiri. Eraniel was also called as Ranasinganallur and ahs historical conne tions to the rulers fo Ay, Pandya, Chera and Chola before coming under of the control of the Venad Kings. Eraniel Samba a variety of rice grown here used to be popular in the ancient days along with the weavers of Chitrapada Patttu specially meant for the Royalty. The original two storeyed palace in ruins today consists of three parts – Padippura, Poomukham and the Vasanta Mantapam. There used to be excellent wooden carvings here which are said to have been looted and taken abroad along with many old paintings.