Hill Palace at
a Glance
Hill Palace Museum
The magnificent
hill palace at Thripunithura (Thiruvankulam panchayat, ernakulam district of
Kerala), was once the Headquarters of the illustrious Kochi Royal family. It was
developed into an archaeological museum in 1984. True to its name, the Palace is
situated majestically on a panoramic hill top, along the Ernakulam-Moovattupuzha
high way, just at a distance of 13
km from the city of Kochi. This palace complex covers an expansive area of
nearly 52 acres of beautiful green landscape. The complex has an archaeological
Museum, a Heritage Museum, a Deer Park, a Pre-historic Park and a Children’s
park.
Archaeological
Museum
Among
them, the Archaeological museum consists of a rich variety of
seventeen major categories of antique exhibits. The grand and elegant
Heritage Museum located on the rear side of the main Palace complex is
actually an Ettukettu, a traditional residential mansion that the
typical architectural splendour and true life-style of ancient Kerala.
The
Deer Park
The
enchanting Deer park in the complex is an exclusively attractive open
area where a large herd of spotted deer and sambar deer can be see
playing about as if in their natural habitat. An alluring peacock kept
in a nearby cage, adds to the charm of the surroundings.
The
pre-historic park here is captivating with a towering and gigantic
life-size model of carnivorous dinosaur. A major portion of the once
prestigious Royal garden is now being restored to its original beauty,
from and shape. The rest of the premises has been developed into a
rare conservatory of indigenous and exotic trees.
The
Palace
The
Hill Palace has been the headquarters of Kochi dynasty only after the
first half og 19th century. Originally, there had been an
‘Ettukettu” type of residential building complex. (Now
renovated in the traditional style itself in which the heritage museum
is situated.) Subsequently,
the northern block of the main Palace complex called the “ Hill
Bangalow” was designed by the European architects and was put up to
perfection in 1898. The central block, which includes the cabinet
hall, and the adjacent block were completed by the abdicated Rama
Varma Raja(1895-1914). It was during his regime that the unique lift
imported from England was installed at the central block.
Contrary
to the traditional style of the Ettukettu, the more significant Hill
Palace is massively and majestically looking mansion with lofty
columns and arches showing
the
European influence. However, in the earlier phase the spanning of
inner ceiling was done with huge wooden beams. In the later phase,
iron beams mostly imported from Britain were be used. Basically, the
Palace complex remains to be a grand and imposing construction with
wooden ceiling, wooden staircase and so on. Rare varieties of imported
tiles in pleasing colors have been used for the flooring, all over the
complex.
