49 buildings on 54 acres: the largest archaeological museum in Kerala

Background

The Ernakulam district site calls Hill Palace the largest archaeological museum in Kerala and the administrative centre of Cochin. The complex has 49 buildings in the local style on 54 acres. Along with the Hill Palace Archaeological Museum it holds a Heritage Museum, a Deer Park, a Prehistoric Park and a Children's Park, and there are many medicinal plants around the palace. The site credits the building of the palace in 1865 to the Maharaja of Cochin, who met the cost from his personal wealth. The Cochin Royal Family handed it over to the Government of Kerala in 1980, and the Archaeological Department took it over in 1986. The museum was opened in 1991 and at present has 11 galleries. Its collection holds ancient artifacts, sculptures, coins and materials belonging to the Cochin Maharaja and his royal family. The district page gives Tripunithura railway station, about 2 km away, as the nearest station.