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Located
at a distance of 10 kilometers from Kochi,
Hill Palace, the official residence of the Kochi royal family was built in
1865. Consisting of 49 buildings, the palace is built in the
Traditional
Architectural Style of Kerala and is surrounded by 52 acres of
terraced land.
All sorts of flora of Kerala including rare medicinal plants are found
here. A full-fledged ethno-archaeological Museum and Kerala's first ever
Heritage Museum are the major attractions.
Antiquities on Display:
Exhibited inside the thirteen galleries are oil paintings, 19th century
paintings, murals,
sculptures in stone and plaster of Paris, manuscripts, inscriptions,
coins, belongings of the Kochi royal family,
Paliathachan's gallery and royal furniture including the 'simhasana' (the
throne or the king's chair).
There are on display 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from
China and Japan, Kudalkall, tomb stone 'thoppikkallu', hood stone
'menhirs' in granite and Literate memorials, rock cut caves belonging to
the early iron, age wooden temple models.
There is an amazing array of plaster cast models of objects from
Mohanjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley civilization of North India.
The upper story houses a gallery of contemporary art.
The huge area over which the museum is spread provides the facilities for
other recreation activities as well. The huge expanse of land that
surrounds the royal palace has a Deer Park and has facilities for horse
riding also.
Timings: The museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days
except Mondays.