History of Travancore: From the Earliest Times

Travancore, a southern princely state of India, was a well-known region in ancient times. Nevertheless, its initial history, the extent of its territory, and other particulars, are mostly buried in obscurity, owing to the non-existence of an accurate and detailed history of the kingdom.

Travancore, under the mother-country's Chera kingdom, covered the best portion of Southern India. It is perhaps the only kingdom in India, that preserves its caste, religion, customs, mannerisms, institutions, etc. Its institutions were never affected by the Mahomedan conquest.

A very important feature in the history of Travancore is that even after being reduced to a feudatory state, its sovereigns were able to extend their dominions; solely on the basis their own bravery. This history will show how the sovereigns and the statesmen of Travancore distinguished themselves in the government of the kingdom, when western enlightenment and civilization were unknown to India.

This remarkable native state, being situated at the southern extremity of the Indian empire, had not been brought forward prominently before the public in early times. It is not surprising that the original history remained in obscurity.

This work carries the reader through the history of Travancore very swiftly. It is the only authoritative work available on this most remarkable part of India. The author has collected the complete information and details from the primary sources, where the public had no access, and from the royal archives. This is an immensely useful work for every student of Indian history.