Padmanabhapuram Palace, located within the Padmanabhapuram Fort of Padmanabhapuram Village in Thuckalay, is a major tourist attraction near Thiruvananthapuram. The palace is regarded among the top ten palaces of the world and is located at a distance of 64 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The erstwhile seat of the Travancore Empire, Padmanabhapuram is located at the foothills of Veli, the hilly extensions of the Western Ghats. Padmanabhapuram Palace is a fine example of traditional Kerala style of architecture. Built in 1601 using a unique combination of egg whites, jaggery, lime, burnt coconuts, charcoal and river sand, Padmanabhapuram Palace is famous for its carved mahogany ceilings, coloured mica windows, secret underground passages, inner courtyards, museum, granite dance halls, etc.