Video:
Talk given by Her Highness the Princess of Travancore, Gouri Parvathi Bayi at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco in February 2012.

Her Highness Princess Gouri Parvathi Bayi of the Travancore Royal Family will introduce the history of her family -- an illustrious dynasty that governed, using a sacred concept of trusteeship, one of the most progressive princely states of pre-Independence India.

Her Highness will share the history of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, a Hindu Temple with close associations to the royal family and recently much in the news as India's "wealthiest temple." She will also talk about the Padmanabhapuram Palace, a beautiful 450 year old structure that was renovated by Maharaja Marthanda Varma in the 1750s, and other palaces associated with her family.

Her Highness is the niece of the late Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma and the current Maharaja, 90-year old Sri Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma. The Travancore family descends through the female line.

Watch this video:

http://bit.ly/XpfKhk