In Kerala, India, a Kovilakam (Malayalam: കോവിലകം) is the principal manor, estate or palace of a princely Kshatriya (Thampuran, Koyi Thampuran, Thampan, Thirumulpad) or Samantan and Samantha Kshatriya lineages of ruling dynasties. It is the royal residence where all the family members who did not become a Raja or Rani or otherwise accede to a Sthanam remain under the management of the eldest resident male or female member of that particular branch of the family.
In the North Malabar region, it is sometimes pronounced as Kolom (Malayalam: കോലോം).[1] A chief princely lineage of Kerala consists of several Kovilakams representing different matrilineal branches of the same family from which the individual members could ascend to the status of Raja in accordance to their seniority in age within the lineage. The Kovilakam residences are usually large and beautiful manors or palaces with extensive wood work and mural paintings in the traditional medieval Kerala architecture style. A Kovilakam was usually endowed with estates and properties (crown lands), sufficient for the maintenance of its constituent members. At the very moment when a member ascends to any seat/station (Sthanam), they lose their residence in the Kovilakam and reside in the royal palace instead. However, there are instances when such members on ascending to a station have preferred to stay back in their Kovilakams of birth.
It was not uncommon where due to internal squabbles within different Kovilakams of a ruling princely family, a certain Kovilakam may usurp and centralize the sole right to inherit the Rajaship and deprive the other Kovilakams within the princely lineage of its inheritance to the station of Raja.[2][3]
^Agrarian relations in late medieval malabar by M.T Narayanan (2003) Swatantra Bharath Press
^A collection of treaties, engagements, and other papers of importance by William Logan
^The book of Duarte Barbosa: an account of the countries bordering on the Indian Ocean and their inhabitants by Duarte Barbosa
In Kerala, India, a Kovilakam (Malayalam: കോവിലകം) is the principal manor, estate or palace of a princely Kshatriya (Thampuran, Koyi Thampuran, Thampan...
Kottayil Kovilakam or Kottayil Kovilakom is a small village in the Paravur taluk, Ernakulam district of Kerala state, near Kochi, south India. It has...
Kodungallur Kovilakam (Malayalam: കൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂര് കോവിലകം), is a palace of the royal family of the late [medieval] Kingdom of Kodungallur (Cranganore)...
section of the Kodungallur Kovilakam, a palace in Kodungallur, Kerala, India. Puthen Kovilakam means "new palace". This Kovilakam (manor house) was known...
Muttungal Kovilakam. Following this significant chapter, a bifurcation occurred, leading to the emergence of two distinct branches: the Onchiyam Kovilakam and...
Arrack business in the kovilakam. This will serve to increase his profits as well as help drive out the last residents of the kovilakam - Manorama and a young...
Ariyittuvazhcha Kovilakam is a building in Mattancherry in the Indian state of Kerala. This building was used to perform the ceremony of Ariyittuvazhcha...
Nilambur Kovilakam, also known as Nilambur Kingdom or Nilambapuri, was a former vassal kingdom and royal Kovilakam in present-day Kerala, India, situated...
and trade organisations . Earlier kovilakam, the royal family conducted the festival. Nilambur Pattu and Kovilakam are the two things associated with...
collection of historic documents and relics. The hillocks at Kottayil Kovilakam are unique as the site of a Hindu temple, a Syrian Christian church, a...
the kingdom of Calicut in 1745, Ravi Varma belonged to the Padinjare Kovilakam (Mankavu Palace), of the Zamorins Royal Family (Nediyirippu Swarupam)...
Poonthottam Mahan Nambudiri (1857–1896) and the members of the Kodungallur Kovilakam (Royal Family) such as Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran. The style of...
main family tharavadu (Naalukettu) is approximately 450 years old. The Kovilakam (palace) houses a large number of artefacts including ancient documents...
Jagannadhan (Mohanlal), a former Mumbai-based enforcer who buys an old kovilakam (royal manor) named Kanimangalam and shifts the balance of power in that...
hospital located in Kozhikode, India. It is located on Mini Bypass Road, Opp Kovilakam Residency Govindapuram, Kozhikode, Kerala, India. Aster MIMS, an NABH-accredited...
of Chirakkal, Nileshwar, Kottakkal, Nilambur Kovilakam, Kalathil Kartha's, Aluva, Amarambalam Kovilakam and Randu Illam Vargam Nambiars. Those families...
known Teak plantation in the world. The town is also famous for Nilambur Kovilakam, where the Nilambur Rajas resided and ruled the land. Nilambur Rajas were...
Nediyiruppu Swaroopam, the Samoothiris and their vassal kings from Nilambur Kovilakam established Calicut as one of the most important trading ports on the...
Beypore was ruled by four Kovilakams - Karippa Puthiyakovilakam, Manayat Kovilakam, Nediyaal Kovilakam and Panagad Kovilakam. As the Gazetteers explain...
elder of two children of P. Narayana Raja and Nalini Raja of Nilambur Kovilakam Nilambur, Malappuram district (Then in Kozhikode district) on 16 June...
Zamorin. Other Kovilakams of Zamorin included the Kizhakke Kovilakam at Kottakkal, Manjeri Kovilakam at Manjeri, and Nilambur Kovilakam at Nilambur. Parappanad...
14th century warrior king of Quilon, Kerala Ravi Varma of Padinjare Kovilakam (1745–1793), rebel prince regent of Calicut, Malabar Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)...
separate property enjoyed in succession by the senior members of the three Kovilakams (palaces) of the family . One of these five Sthanams came to be known...
Global Information