Getting down from Tandiandamol Peak, very close to it was my next destination – Nalknad Palace. This was built by Doddaveerarajendra in 1792. He was a Kodagu king belonging to the Haleri reign. Chikkaveerarajendra was the last king of this dynasty who ruled in 1834. Unfortunately by his time the power of British Raj had become so strong that he had to surrender. This palace served as the last refuge to him before he gave up.
I reached the temple by exactly 1:20 PM. There was little chit on the door that had a phone number and said that 1 to 1:30 is the lunch hour. So I waited there at the entrance for 10mins and sharp in 10mins, the gentleman, its caretaker turned up. By this time there were 2 more groups of visitors and we were about 10 of us. I thought the caretaker is just a guy who has the key but I was amazed when he started taking us on a guided tour throughout the palace. He’s well versed with the history of the palace.
The entire place is painted, the ceilings, walls, everything in both ground floor and first floor, even the walls of the royal toilets!!! But sadly, very sadly, the painting that we see today belongs to the recent years (less than 50 years old). All these surfaces were originally painted when it was built in 1792. Today these original paintings are being restored bit by bit, removing the current plaster layer, under INTACH. Hoping to see it in its restored, original glory soon...
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P.S: In the Virajpet Town is this clock! It is more than a 100 years old. It was erected by M.R.Ry Mukkatira Iyappah son of M.R.Ry Muttanna Subedar of Devanagiri Village in 1911 in the memory of Delhi Coronation Durbar that happened under King George V when India was under British Raj.
To Get There:
On Google Maps: Nalknad Palace
From Tadiandamol Peak: 5.6km
From Magnolia Resort, Coorg: 33km
From Coorg Madikere Bus Stand: 35km