The Maharaja of Travancore was the principal title of the ruler of the Kingdom of Travancore in the southern part of Kerala, India. The Maharaja of Travancore was the topmost ruler of Travancore until 1949, when Travancore was acceded to India. Since then, the Maharaja of Travancore has remained in a titular position.
Image | Name | Reign |
---|---|---|
Rama Varma I | 1663–1672 | |
Aditya Varma I | 1672–1677 | |
Umayamma Rani [1] | 1677–1684 (Regent Queen) | |
Ravi Varma | 1684–1718 | |
Aditya Varma II | 1718–1719 | |
Unni Kerala Varma | 1719–1724 | |
Rama Varma II | 1724–1729 | |
![]() | Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma I | 1729–1758 |
![]() | Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma I (Dharma Raja) | 1758–1798 |
![]() | Avittom Thirunal Balarama Varma I | 1798–1810 |
![]() | Ayilyom Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi | 1810–1813 (Queen Regnant) 1813–1815 (Regent Queen) |
![]() | Uthrittathi Thirunal Gowri Parvati Bayi | 1815–1829 (Regent Queen) |
![]() | Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma II | 1829–1846 |
![]() | Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma II | 1846–1860 |
![]() | Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma III | 1860–1880 |
![]() | Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma IV | 1880–1885 |
![]() | Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma V | 1885–1924 |
![]() | Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi | 1924–1931 (Regent Queen) |
![]() | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma II | 1931–1971 |
The rani of Attingal was the head of her principality and the eldest woman of the Trippapur svarupam. That meaning was specifically applied to the ranis of Attingal, in other parts of India this word had another definition. Because Travancore knew a marumakkathayam or matrilinear form of succession, the rani of Attingal had a special position. This meant that the eldest son of the rani was the first successor to Travancore's throne. His brothers and sisters were seated on the thrones of the other principalities. Therefore, the rani of Attingal could be seen as the mother of most of the royals in Travancore, and was succeeded by her own eldest daughter
Image | Name | Reign | Consort | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
HH Maharani Rani Rani Rukmini Bai | 1815–1837 | - | - | |
HH Maharani Rani Gauri Parvati Bai | 1837–1853 | - | - | |
HH Maharani HH Pooradam Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi | 1853–1857 | - | - | |
![]() | HH Maharani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi | 1857–1901 | Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran Lakshmipuram Palace ![]() | Adopted HH Maharani Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, Elaya Thampuratti Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi |
![]() | HH Maharani Poordam thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi | 1901–1971 | Sri Rama varma Valiya Koyi Thapuran (Harippad Kottaram) | At the age of six, Sethu Lakshmi Bayi succeeded Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi as Maharani of Attingal/ Attingal Mootha Thapuran/ Travancore Maharani |
After British India became independent as two dominions in 1947, Chithira Thirunal agreed to accede his state to the new Dominion of India. Travancore was united with the neighbouring Cochin state and Chithira Thirunal served as Rajpramukh of the Travancore-Cochin Union from 1 July 1949 to 31 October 1956, which was the entire duration of the existence of that political entity. On 1 November 1956, the state of Kerala was created by uniting the Malayalam-speaking areas of the Travancore-Cochin Union with those of neighbouring Madras State, and Sree Chithira Thirunal's office of Rajpramukh came to an end. On 28 December 1971, Chithira Thirunal lost his privy purse and other privileges when the Indian government derecognized the rulers of the erstwhile princely states. Since then the head of the Travancore royal family is the pretender to the abolished title. The titular Maharaja fulfils his duties as Maharaja of Travancore in rituals related to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. In 2012, the High Court of Kerala in a judgement on Mujeeba Rahman vs the State Of Kerala stated that, 'though by the 26th amendment of the Constitution, Article 363 was repealed whereby the rights and privileges of the rulers of Indian States were taken away, still the name and title of the rulers remained as such and unaffected in so far as names and titles were not contemplated as rights or privileges under the repealed Articles 291 and 362 of the Constitution.' So the titles were not abolished by the Government; only their political powers and right to receive Privy Purse were cancelled. [2] [3]
Image | Name | Period |
---|---|---|
![]() | Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma II | 1971–1991 |
![]() | Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma III | 1991–2013 |
![]() | Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI | 2013 – present |
In 1971, the Indian government, through the 26th Amendment of the Constitution, repealed Article 363, thereby abolishing the rights and privileges of the rulers of Indian States. This action effectively ended the political powers and the right to receive the Privy Purse for these rulers. However, the titles and names of the rulers were not considered as rights or privileges under the repealed Articles 291 and 362 of the Constitution. As a result, the titles of the erstwhile rulers were not abolished by the government; only their political powers and financial privileges were revoked.
A notable example is the Travancore royal family, where the title of Maharani continues to hold cultural significance. The female head of the Travancore royal family traditionally holds the title of Maharani or Attingal Rani. Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, who left Travancore, retained her title until her death in 1985. After her, the title was passed to her sister's daughter, Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, who held it from 1985 until her death in 2013. Subsequently, the title was briefly held by Maharani Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi's elder daughter, Uthram Thirunal Lalithamba Bayi, from June to November 2013. After her passing, the title went to her younger sister, Karthika Thirunal Indira Bayi, who was the elder female head of the Travancore royal family from November 2013 until her death in July 2017.
Following the death of Karthika Thirunal Indira Bayi, the title passed to Uthram Thirunal Lalithamba Bayi's daughter Bharani Thirunal Rukmini Bayi Thampuran. Currently, she is the female head of the Travancore royal family and is considered the Attingal Rani and titular Maharani of Travancore. Despite her status, there is a tendency to overlook her presence in historical accounts as she resides in Bangalore rather than in Travancore.
Image | Name | Reign |
---|---|---|
![]() | HH Maharani Poordam thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi | 1971–1985 At the age of six (1901), Sethu Lakshmi Bayi succeeded Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi as Maharani of Attingal/ Attingal Mootha Thapuran/ Travancore Maharani |
![]() | Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi | 1985–2008 Daughter of Junior Rani Sethu Parvathi Bayi of Attingal |
Uthram Thirunal Lalaithamba Bhai | 2008 June -2008 November (Elder Daughter of HH Maharani Poordam thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi | |
Karthika Thirunal Indira Bai | 2008 November -2017 July(Yonger Daughter of HH Maharani Poordam thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi | |
![]() | Bharani Thirunal Rukmini Bayi/ Rukmini Varma | 2017 July- Present (granddaughter HH Maharani Poordam thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, Daughter of Uthram Thirunal Lalaithamba Bhai) |
Image | Name | Period |
---|---|---|
![]() | Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma III | 1971–1991 |
![]() | Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI | 1991 – 2013 |
Revathi Thirunal Balagopal Varma | 2013 – Present |
Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore until 1991. His reign is known for several notable reforms that have indelible impact on the society and culture of Kerala.
Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran ; 19 February 1845 – 22 September 1914) also spelt Kerala Varma Valiya Koilthampuran and known as Kerala Varma, was a Malayalam - language poet and translator who had an equal facility in writing in English and Sanskrit from the Indian state of Kerala. He was a prince of Parappanad, and consort to the Senior Rani of Attingal and Maharani of Travancore, Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, intended to father future sovereigns of Travancore, although the couple was childless, necessitating the adoption of Lakshmi Bayi's grand-nieces. Kerala Varma is also known as the Kalidasa of Kerala, and was both brother-in-law and cousin to painter Raja Ravi Varma, also a prince of Parappanad, though from the Kilimanoor branch, whom he presented with his first oil paints. A third Parappanad prince, his grammarian nephew A. R. Raja Raja Varma, is known as the Panini of Kerala.
Sir Sri Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma IVGCSI CIE (1832–1880) reigned as Maharaja of Travancore from 1860 to 1880. His reign was highly successful, with Travancore, gaining the appellation of "model state of India", with such celebrated administrators as Raja Sir T. Madhava Rao and Sir A. Seshayya Sastri serving him as Diwans.
Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi CI was the monarch, though designated as the Regent due to British policy, of the Kingdom of Travancore in southern India between 1924 and 1931. She, along with her younger cousin, Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi, were adopted into the Travancore royal family and were the granddaughters of the celebrated painter, Raja Ravi Varma.
Maharani Ayilyom Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi (1791–1815) was the Maharani of the Indian state of Travancore from 1810 till 1813 and Regent from 1813 till her death in 1815 for her son Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. She was the only Queen of Travancore to have reigned in her own right which she did for three years before becoming the regent for her son.
Maharani Uthrittathi Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi (1802–1853) was the Regent of the Indian state of Travancore in 1815–1829. She succeeded her sister Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, till her regency was relinquished in favour of her nephew, Maharajah Swathi Thirunal.
Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma was the titular Maharaja of Travancore. He was the younger brother of the last ruling monarch of the Kingdom of Travancore, Maharajah Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.
Kowdiar Palace is the official residence of the Travancore Royal Family, situated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It was built in 1934 by Maharajah Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, on pallikettu (wedding) of his only sister, Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi with G. V. Raja.
The Travancore royal family was the ruling house of the Kingdom of Travancore.The Travancore royal family signed a treaty with the British in 1788, thereby adopting British dominance. Later, in 1805, they revised the treaty, leading to a diminution of royal authority and the loss of political independence for Travancore. They had to give up their ruling rights over the common people in 1949 when Travancore were forced to merge with Independent India and their political pension privileges were abolished in 1971.
Rukmini Varma is an Indian artist based in Bangalore.
Maharani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi CI was the Senior Rani of Travancore from 1857 till her death in 1901. Her consort was the famous poet and writer, styled the father of Malayalam literature, Sri Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran.
Lt. Col. P. R. Godavarma Raja, often referred to as G. V. Raja, was an Indian sports and tourism promoter and administrator, pilot, sportsman and Sanskrit scholar. He took special care in inspiring the youth into sports and was instrumental in founding the Kerala Sports Council in 1953. G. V. Raja occupied the post of Council President till he was killed in a flight mishap in 1971. G. V. Raja also played a key role in establishing the Trivandrum Tennis Club, Flying Club, and the development of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. As the spouse of Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi, he became the prince consort of Travancore.
Thirunal is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Rani Bharani Thirunal Parvathi Bayi was a junior Rani of Travancore as known as ' Attingal Elaya Rani ' Her consort was Kilimanoor Kerala Varma Koyi Thampuran. Parvathi Bayi was born in 1850 as the daughter of Bharani Thirunal Amma Thampuran of Utsava Madom Palace in Mavelikara.
Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma is the current incumbent to the throne of Travancore. He is the youngest of the four children of the former titular Maharani of Travancore, Sree Padmanabhasevini Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi and her husband, Prince Consort Lt. Col. G. V. Raja of Poonjar Royal House.
Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi (1916-2008) was the only sister of the last ruling Maharajah of Travancore, Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and of his successor, Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma. Under the matrilineal Marumakkathayam system of inheritance prevalent in the kingdom of Travancore, it was her children who were heirs to the throne. She therefore held a very special place in the Travancore court, superior to the Maharaja's wives, and was termed the Rani of Attingal in her own right. In 2013, her only surviving son duly succeeded his uncles as titular Maharaja of Travancore and is known as Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma.
Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi (1896–1983), better known as Amma Maharani, was the Junior Maharani (Queen) of Travancore as well as a promoter of Indian Classical music. She was the mother of Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the last King of Travancore. She was the president of the National Council of Women in India in 1938–1944.
Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi is an Indian writer from Kerala and a member of the Travancore Royal Family. She has ten books to her credit. Aswathy Thirunal is the niece of the last King of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. She was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award the Padma Shri in 2024.
Koyi Thampuran was the title of the Prince Consorts of the Queens and Princesses of Travancore. The Koyi Thampurans' gained prominence and prestige in Kingdom of Travancore as they were the fathers of the then reigning Kings. In Travancore, there were ten clans of Koyi Thampurans. The most ancient were the ones settled at Kilimanoor ; others were Kirthipuram, Pallam, Paliyakkara and Nirazhi, Ananthapuram, Chemprol, Cherukol, Karazhma and Vatakkemadham.
Lakshmipuram Palace is the royal palace of the Parappanad royal families at Changanassery. Palace is located at Puzhavathu near to Kavil Bhagavathy Temple. The Lakshmipuram Palace was built in 1811 AD by Travancore ruler Maharani Ayilyom Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi (1791–1815) on behalf of the family of her husband Raja Raja Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran. Until then, the royal family at the Neerazhi Palace in Changanacherry had been moved to newly built Lakshmipuram Palace. It was the seat of the royal family of Koi thampurans and has produced many illustrious writers such as Raja Raja Varma Koil Thampuran, Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran and A. R. Raja Raja Varma. Noted Malayalam singer and classical musician L. P. R. Varma also hails from this palace.