Royal Residence Of The Arakkal Family.
Arakkal Kettu is the royal palace of the Arakkal Ali Rajas and Beebis, the erstwhile Muslim rulers of Kannur. They have a very illustrious history dating back from the 12th century AD. The Arakkal dynasty was headed by the senior most member irrespective of gender. If the ruler was male he was known as ‘Ali Raja’, and if the ruler was a female she was known as ‘Arakkal Beebi’.
The Arakkals had alliances with the Portuguese, the Dutch and the Mysore rulers. The Portuguese helped the Arakkal rulers to build the Fort St. Angelo, which is very near to the Arakkal Palace. Later the Portuguese took back the administration of the fort. They were replaced by the Dutch in the middle of the 17th century. The Arakkals had a peaceful trade relationship with the Dutch, and they later sold the fort back to the Arakkals in 1770. With the possession of the Kannur Fort and their alliance with the Mysore rulers, the Arakkals became the most powerful rulers of the Malabar during the period. After the first Mysore war in 1790, the British defeated the Arakkal army and took over Kannur Fort. The British also claimed Laccadive Islands which were in the possession of the Arakkal dynasty since the 15th century. After a dispute with the British which lasted for over a 100 years, an agreement was signed on 15th December 1908 by which the family was given an annual compensation of ₹23,000. The ruler was also given a title of respect as ‘Sulthan’. However, the rule of dynasty came to an end on 15th August 1947, but the same amount of annual compensation continues to this day for the upkeep of the Arakkal Kettu. Surviving members of the royal family still live in the Arakkal Kettu.
The Arakkal Kettu or Palace is an imposing Kerala style one storied palatial building with a sloping tiled roof, located about a kilometre away from the St. Angelo’s Fort. A visit to both the places can be combined in one trip. The Kettu is a protected monument under the ASI. The Arakkal Museum is housed in the Darbar Hall, which is a section of the Arakkal Kettu. It was opened in 2005 after being renovated by the Government of Kerala. The museum is worth a visit for the students of history. It is closed on Mondays and open from 10 am to 5 pm on the other days. There is a nominal entry fee. There is no parking lot but the area is not very crowded and we parked in one of the side lanes next to the palace.
The Arakkals had alliances with the Portuguese, the Dutch and the Mysore rulers. The Portuguese helped the Arakkal rulers to build the Fort St. Angelo, which is very near to the Arakkal Palace. Later the Portuguese took back the administration of the fort. They were replaced by the Dutch in the middle of the 17th century. The Arakkals had a peaceful trade relationship with the Dutch, and they later sold the fort back to the Arakkals in 1770. With the possession of the Kannur Fort and their alliance with the Mysore rulers, the Arakkals became the most powerful rulers of the Malabar during the period. After the first Mysore war in 1790, the British defeated the Arakkal army and took over Kannur Fort. The British also claimed Laccadive Islands which were in the possession of the Arakkal dynasty since the 15th century. After a dispute with the British which lasted for over a 100 years, an agreement was signed on 15th December 1908 by which the family was given an annual compensation of ₹23,000. The ruler was also given a title of respect as ‘Sulthan’. However, the rule of dynasty came to an end on 15th August 1947, but the same amount of annual compensation continues to this day for the upkeep of the Arakkal Kettu. Surviving members of the royal family still live in the Arakkal Kettu.
The Arakkal Kettu or Palace is an imposing Kerala style one storied palatial building with a sloping tiled roof, located about a kilometre away from the St. Angelo’s Fort. A visit to both the places can be combined in one trip. The Kettu is a protected monument under the ASI. The Arakkal Museum is housed in the Darbar Hall, which is a section of the Arakkal Kettu. It was opened in 2005 after being renovated by the Government of Kerala. The museum is worth a visit for the students of history. It is closed on Mondays and open from 10 am to 5 pm on the other days. There is a nominal entry fee. There is no parking lot but the area is not very crowded and we parked in one of the side lanes next to the palace.
Date of experience: December 2019
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