Ariyittuvazhcha Kovilakam, Mattancherry

Ariyittuvazhcha Kovilakam in Mattancherry is the building where the Maharajas of the old Cochin Kingdom held their coronation, the Ariyittuvazhcha. Built of brick and wood in the nālukettu style, with a ceiling covered in fired clay pieces called oodu, it was opened only for coronations, and a locked room inside held the cot used for the ceremony. It is a state protected monument.

For the ceremony, a procession made its way from the Dutch Palace to the kovilakam, where the Maharaja bathed in the pond. The locked room was then opened, and he sat on the cot under an olakkuda, a palm-leaf umbrella, while priests performed Vedic rites and showered him with rice (ari) as a blessing, to the ululation (kurava) of the watching crowd. Afterwards the new king went to the Palliyarakadavu temple, opposite Mattancherry Palace.