Opened 1904 | Completed 1904 | |
Address Chinnakada, Kollam, Kerala 691001 Architectural style Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture Client Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma Similar British Residency, Sri Moolam Thirunal Palace, Kovilthottam Lighthouse, 8 Point Art Cafe, Thevally Palace | ||
Cheena Kottaram or China Palace is a rest house that has been constructed in 1904 for Sri Mulam Tirunal Rama Varma, the then King of Travancore. The palace got completed along with the commissioning of Kollam–Sengottai branch line. It is a single storied red-brick building with seven rooms. The architecture of Cheena Kottaram is Indo-Saracenic - generally a blend of Indian architecture, European, Islamic and Moorish architecture. Cheena Kottaram is yet to get the 'National Heritage Monument' accreditation.
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Etymology
Kollamites called this rest house as Cheena Kottaram(China Palace) because of its resemblances with the ancient Chinese buildings.
History
Before the independence of India, the commercial capital of Travancore kingdom was Quilon(Kollam) - The city with maximum business & commercial reputation in the Travancore-Malabar Coast, with high level of export-import operations through the flourishing Quilon Port. Kollam was known as Palace City that time as there were so many palaces in the city then. One and only airport in the Travancore-Malabar Coast was situated at Kollam city then. During that time, there were no rail-air connectivity to Thiruvananthapuram. Kings of Travancore used to travel from Kollam. For that, they have built the Cheena Kottaram, close to the Quilon Junction railway station.