Hill Palace

 

Hill Palace Thripunithura, Ernakulam District, Kochi

History 

Hill Palace  is located in Thripunithura/Tripunithura, in Ernakulam district of the state of Kerala. Constructed in 1865, the museum (previously a palace) used to be the official residence of the Kochi Royal family. The palace has now been converted into the present day museum. The museum holds the collection of the paintings of the erstwhile Maharaja of Kochi. The palace complex is a large enclosed area which comprises of 49 buildings, which were built in traditional Kerala style architecture. The palace compound is spread over 52 acres of area. This compound includes beautiful fountains which are a piece of art. Apart of these fountains the compound also guards elaborately lush lawns and a number of ponds. There are a number of rare medicinal plants too, which have been cultivated here. The Ethno-archaeological museum displays a number of ancient murals, oil-paintings, Stone artifacts and coins, along with manuscripts and sculptures, which belongs to the Kochi Royal Family. The first building constructed inside the complex is a single storied Ettukettu, which is supposed to be constructed in the year 1850. There is a traditional pond and a temple alongside this building. This building is constructed in traditional Kerala architecture style, according to which a residential building should be added with a pond and a temple. The latest addition to the palace compound is the three-storey museum office, which was constructed in the year 1950 in western style.  The palace was announced as a historical site and was taken over by the Department Of Archaeology in the year 1980. Six years later in 1986, the palace was opened to public. However, the museum was closed to public during the time, because rigorous renovation works were taking place. The palace was almost rebuilt and major changes were done to the exteriors of the compound. The palace was fitted with intricate carvings, which add to the ambiance of the palace. The palace is elaborately designed, while the museum is divided into 14 different categories of exhibits, including inscriptions, paintings, murals, manuscripts, sculpture in stone and plaster of Paris, carvings etc. This palace is one of the major examples of Nalukettu form of architecture, which was appreciated in Kerala at the medieval times and is still valued.