Hill Palace, Kochi

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Hill Palace is an archaeological and history museum in the Tripunithura area of Kochi, Kerala. Built in 1865, it was the imperial office and residence of the Cochin Maharaja. Today it is the largest archaeological museum in Kerala and is open to the public.

The palace complex covers 54 acres and includes 49 buildings built in traditional style. It houses an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, a deer park, a pre-historic park, and a children’s park. The gardens also contain many medicinal plants. The Kerala State Archaeology Department runs the museum, and the Centre for Heritage Studies operates on the site.

Historically, the Cochin queen and her matrilineal system made Tripunithura the royal capital. The royal offices and residence were built in 1865, and more buildings were added over time. The palace was handed over to the Kerala government in 1980 and opened to the public in 1986. It is a popular filming location for Malayalam cinema.

The museum has 14 categories of exhibits, including the crown and royal ornaments, paintings, stone and marble sculptures, weapons, inscriptions, and coins. Many items come from the Cochin royal family, with some from the Paliam Devaswom and the Department of Archaeology. Notable items include a gold crown set with precious stones and various valuable coins. Films such as Manichitrathazhu (1993) were shot here, along with other Malayalam movies.