Explore the Hill Palace, the largest archaeological museum in Kerala on your holiday trip to Kerala. The “God's own country” Kerala offers you the tempting beaches, splendid backwaters and the picturesque hills. Kerala's wildlife sanctuaries,historic cities,and magnificent temples and royal museums can add some refreshing breeze to your stressed out life.

The Kochi, popularly known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”can boast of possessing a number of magnetic attractions among which the Hill Palace museum is one. Located at Thripunithura, the Hill Palace museum was originally a royal palace which has been converted into the museum. Built in 1865 it is still the official residence of Kochi Royal family. The Hill Palace is situated at a distance of about 12 kms from Kochi on Ernakulam-Chottanikkara route.

Explore the wonders of traditional architectural style of Kerala as you venture into the museum halls. The Hill Palace consists of 49 buildings surrounded by picturesque terraced land with pond, fountains and lawns. Visit the oldest single storeyed building “ettukettu” built in the Kerala style. The other buildings depict an exclusive combination of traditional and western architecture. The latest construction is a three storeyed western style building which was used as an office.

The exquisite and royal collection of the museum will amaze you. The galleries present a rare collection of crafts, arts, paintings, old horse driven carriages, royal ornaments and many items of Kerala rulers. Ornaments and jewelery are kept in a protected room for display. There are 14 categories of paintings, murals, sculpture in stone and plaster of Paris, manuscripts, inscriptions, carvings and lot more to experience. Watch out the displays 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from China and Japan. Besides this there are rock cut weapons,plaster cut models and also the gallery of contemporary art. The gallery of cabinet hall displays royal furnitures including “Simhasana”.

Entrance fee to the Hill Palace is Rs. 11 for adults and Rs. 7 for children . You can also enjoy a canteen, a deer park and children park inside the campus of Hill Palace. The museum premises has been converted into a beautiful botanical garden with exclusive tropical trees from Central America to Australia.