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The Hill Palace in Thrippunithura in Ernakulam district stands as a majestic representation of the city's history and symbol of grandeur of erstwhile Kochi kingdom. Built in 1865 as the official residence of the former rulers, it now serves as Kerala's premier heritage museum and extensive ethno-archaeological showcase. Sprawled across 52 acres, the palace reflects traditional Kerala architecture with 49 buildings in the complex.
Besides being an archaeological museum, the Hill Palace features a deer park, a heritage museum, a pre-historic park and a children's park. Exploring the palace allows you to witness the design of a typical Kerala royal residence, complete with a Poomukham (Sit-out), Akathalam (internal hall), Homappura (pooja room), Madappally (royal kitchen), Oottupura (dining hall), and a cabinet hall equipped with an elevator imported from England. The large rooms reflect the royal lifestyle of the erstwhile rulers.
The Palace houses antique ceramics, laterite memorials and wooden artefacts from ancient civilizations like Indus Valley and Harappa. Visitors can marvel at oil paintings, murals, sculptures, swords, crowns, coins, manuscripts and other belongings of the Kochi royal family.
Since the demise of Rama Varma Pareekshit Thampuran in 1964, the Palace Administration Board has been managing the Hill Palace complex.
Keep in mind that photography is prohibited inside the museum. Visitors are required to remove their footwear before entering the archaeological building.
However, the fountains, decorative lawns and ponds make it an ideal spot for outdoor photography. The beauty of its interior and exterior has been captured by various Malayalam movies, especially, the phenomenal Malayalam movie, Manichithrathaazhu, which was later made into other regional languages. Various galleries, including a cabinet gallery, jewellery gallery, and wood carving gallery contribute to the rich experience of exploring this historical gem.
Contact:
Hill Palace Road, Irumpanam, Thrippunithura,
Thiruvankulam, Ernakulam, Kerala 682301
Ph: +91 484 278 1113
Getting there:
Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam Junction, about 12 km | Thrippunithura, about 4 km
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 33 km
Click here to explore the majestic palace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUfS2w7lo30
Topics: Hill Palace Kochi
