Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
13 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
14 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
15 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
16 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All India Kuttikkanam Ammachi Kottaram

Ammachi Kottaram

A former palace designed for the consorts of the Travancore royal dynasty.

Kuttikkanam, India

Added By
Jeremy Pine
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Ammachi Kottaram   Rescaper / Atlas Obscura User
Ammachi Kottaram   Rescaper / Atlas Obscura User
Ammachi Kottaram   Rescaper / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

The Kingdom of Travancore ruled parts of southwest India from 1729 until 1949, existing as a vassal state of the British Raj from the late 18th-century onward. Encompassing much of present-day Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu, Travancore was one of the more prosperous principalities of the sub-continent.

Ammachi Kottaram was constructed by Travancore Maharaja, Moolam Thirunal, sometime in the 19th-century. Nestled in the cool tea and coffee growing highlands, it was mainly used as a royal retreat for the wife of the Maharaja. Travancore royal titles were passed matrilineally, so brother and sister ruled as the Maharaja and Maharani. The Maharaja's wife was thus given the title of consort rather than queen. It's believed that Thirunal constructed Ammachi Kottaram for his wife, although the exact history behind its construction remains murky. 

Today, the palace grounds still cover around 25 acres of land across the foggy hilltops. The building itself contains a wrap-around veranda, three rooms, two large halls for receiving guests, as well as bathrooms, kitchens, and dining areas. There are also two secret passageways, one for movement within the palace, while the other was used as a subterranean escape tunnel.

Recently, the structure has served as a location for Malayalam language films, including Carbon (2018) and Lucifer (2019). Unfortunately, the building and grounds seem to have suffered from neglect over the years. However, the crumbling structure amidst the gorgeous landscape is a satisfying destination for history buffs. 

Related Tags

Palaces

Know Before You Go

The palace in located on a dirt road that diverges westward from N183 at the Wild Orchid Restaurant.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Delhi and Rajasthan: Colors of India

Discover Colorful Rajasthan: From Delhi to Jaipur and Beyond.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Rescaper

Published

October 5, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Ammachi Kottaram
NH183
Kuttikkanam, 685531
India
9.572829, 76.971673
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

Munnar, India

miles away

Cheraman Juma Masjid

Kodungallur, India

miles away

Bull Surfing in Kerala

Palakkad, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 353
Stories 107

Nearby Places

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

Munnar, India

miles away

Cheraman Juma Masjid

Kodungallur, India

miles away

Bull Surfing in Kerala

Palakkad, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 353
Stories 107

Related Places

  • Night view of the palace with Kathmandu’s famous giant fruit bats flying overhead.

    Kathmandu, Nepal

    Narayanhiti Palace Museum Massacre Site

    The courtyard of this palace was the site of the worst slaughter of sitting royals in recorded history.

  • Palazzo dei Papi (Palace of the Popes).

    Viterbo, Italy

    Palazzo dei Papi (Palace of the Popes)

    For two decades in the 13th century, the papacy operated from this palace in central Italy, which served as the site of the first—and longest—papal election conclave in history.

  • Aranđelovac, Serbia

    Staro Zdanje

    Once one of the most beautiful buildings in Serbia, this palace stands abandoned in a park.

  • The Gate House, one of the remains of Richmond Palace.

    London, England

    Remains of Richmond Palace

    This site was once home to Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

  • Zaragoza, Spain

    Aljaferia Palace

    This 11th-century fortress is now the seat of Aragon’s state legislature.

  • The Marble Throne is truly a sight to see.

    Tehran, Iran

    Golestan Palace

    Iran's "Rose Garden Palace," built during 131 years of rule by Qajar kings, consists of 17 stunning structures.

  • The Neoclassical palace is reason enough to visit.

    Corfu, Greece

    Corfu Museum of Asian Art

    A spectacular Neoclassical palace is home more than 15,000 artifacts and works of art.

  • One of the rooms in the Museo de la Inquisición.

    Granada, Spain

    Palacio de los Olvidados (Palace of the Forgotten)

    This 16th-century building features a flamenco stage on its ground floor and a torture museum on its upper floors.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.