[darklord]

India, being a vast country with history dating back to the BC's, has buildings and artifacts that are historically important all over our country. Only a very few of them are known, remembered, or even cared for. There are a lot lot more lesser known buildings/monuments/artifacts all over India, albeit historically of similar importance. Through this thread, I hope a lot more of them will get the appreciation and respect they truly deserve.

A traveller's rest house (vazhiyambalam in malayalam) at the bank of river Vamanapuram in Melattingal, Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Supposedly built by Travancore king Marthandavarma in the 1700s. He is thought to have built 18 of these, 18 wells, and 18 load holders in his kingdom after the major wars to expand his kingdom was over. Now in a state of neglect and abuse.

[darklord]

Quoting Wiki:

"The suspension bridge across the Kallada river erected in 1877, is the only one of its kind in south India and it is 400 ft long. The Punalur suspension bridge crossing the Kallada river is the only suspended-deck type in south India. Built in 1877 by Albert Henry across the Kallada river, this huge bridge was suspended by three spans and was used for vehicular movement. Construction took more than six years. It is said that after completion of the bridge people hesitated to walk through the bridge. In order to prove the strength of the bridge the engineer and his family passed under the bridge in a country boat while six elephants were walking through the bridge. Now the bridge is only of archeological interest."

Punalur is a town in Kollam district, Kerala.