Thripunithura Hill Palace
March 26, 2010 by admin
Filed under Thripunithura Hill Palace
Positioned 12 kilometres from Ernakulam, Thripunithura was the abode of the former ruling family of Cochin and the Hill Palace, the official residence of the royals. Today, this palace houses the largest archeological museum of Kerala. This palace was built in 1865 and has 49 elegant buildings built in traditional Kerala architectural style with Western influence.
The palace houses an ethno-archeological museum and a heritage museum, which is first in Kerala. The museum exhibits the riches and fortunes of the former imperial family of Kochi. King’s throne and the crown in the ornaments gallery are some of the most interesting objects displayed here. Other items include the majestic beds, grand paintings, carvings and samples of epigraphy. Some of the wooden carvings of 14th century are also brought from the Enadimangalam temple, are on display in the woodcarvings gallery. There are also sculptures and ivory items displayed here. The porcelain gallery has 160 objects ranging from cups and pots to Chinese dishes. The numismatic gallery displays coins of stately Cochin and Travancore states, British coins, Roman silver coins, and punch-marked coins.
Exhibits here also include 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from Japan and China, Kudakkallu (tomb stone), Thoppikkallu (hood stone), menhirs, granite, laterite memorials, rock cut weapons from the stone ages, wooden temple models, plaster cast models of objects from Harappa and Mohanjodaro. Now, also these things are maintained as it is and with great care. Hence, Thripunithura Hill Palace will be only one such in Kerala with a rich and wide variety of ancient collections.
The building is naalukettu with an adjoining dining hall. It is the floors that catch our attention. The interiors of the palace display bright coloured mosaic tiles. The glazed Italian marble tiles in the corridors still seem sparkling. In the outer wall of the Cabinet Hall, there are Victorian tiles sporting floral designs. There appears to have a lot of Western influence in the designing of the interiors. Even the metallic ornamental roofing of the Cabinet Hall shows Western craftsmanship.
Informations:
Timings : – 9:00 hrs to 12:30 hrs and 14:00 hrs to 16:30 hrs.
Closed on Mondays and National holidays.