[1] The palace complex lies inside an old granite fortress around four kilometers long.

[2] The palace was constructed around 1601 CE by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Venad between 1592 and 1609.

When the states of India were reorganised on linguistic lines, and Kanyakumari was transferred to Tamil Nadu, the Palace remained under the ownership and control of the Government of Kerala.

The ornamental bedstead is made of 64 types of herbal and medicinal woods, and was a gift from the Dutch merchants.

Most of the rooms here and in other parts of the palace complex have built-in recesses in walls for storing weapons like swords and daggers.

The top floor (called upparikka malika) served as the worship chamber of the royal household.

[4] In 1993, Thekkae Kottaram was converted into a heritage museum, exhibiting antique household articles and curios.

The collection of items give an insight into the social and cultural ethos of the traditional Kerala household in earlier times.

[4] To the northwest of Thai Kottaram is one of the most notable parts of the royal complex, Uppirikka Malika (Malayalam: ഉപ്പിരിക്ക മാളിക.