From a Palace to a Museum: The Historical Arc of Kerala’s Hill Palace Museum

Muskaan Gupta

From a Palace to a Museum: The Historical Arc of Kerala’s Hill Palace Museum

In the town of Tripunithura in Kerala lies the Hill Palace Museum—how did this intricate piece of architecture come into being? What was the journey from being a sprawling palace, home to the Cochin royal family, to housing an assorted collection of historical artefacts like?

The Hill Palace Museum at Ernakulum (Source- Kerela Tourism)

In the eighteenth century, Thrissur served as the formal capital of the Kingdom of Cochin (presently Kochi). Nevertheless, because the Cochin royal dynasty followed a matrilineal tradition and the queen was considered the head of the state under whom the monarch presided, the queen's residence was ceremoniously considered to be the royal capital. The city of Tripunithura thus became the recognized official capital in 1755 when the queen and her entourage moved there.

As a consequence, Prince Rama Varma was born and brought up in Tripunithura, and even after becoming the king, he chose to remain there rather than go to Thrissur. In 1865, a royal office was built for his benefit, which included a court building and offices for royal secretaries and court nobility. But, as time went on, a growing number of structures were built in addition to the main structure for a variety of uses. Although other members of the Cochin royal family had their own designated bungalows and official dwellings, an imperial palace structure was built for the monarch and his immediate family.

As per historical evidence, the oldest structure in this palace complex was reportedly constructed by Ravi Varma, who ruled between 1853 and 1864. The palace complex, which consists of forty-nine structures, displays Kerala's traditional architectural doctrines. The overall size of the complex is about 52 acres, and the complete building's plinth area is 13,000 square feet. The poomukham (open verandah), akathalam (interior hall), homappura (prayer room), madappally (the royal kitchen), oottupura (dining hall), and valiya oottupura (dining hall) are some of the numerous spaces that make up the palace complex.

There are fifteen main galleries at the archaeological museum, and the majority of the artifacts are gifts from royal families like that of Cochin and Travancore. The Cochin royal Family gave the majority of the museum's attractions, along with a few items from the Paliam Devaswom. A gold crown covered with precious stones and several priceless coins, jewels, regal beds, and epigraphic samples are part of the museum's collection. The Paliath Achan Gallery is where the Paliayam Devaswom group's displays are kept. In addition to this, the Department of Archaeology also acquired a few ancient items from various locations in Kerala. The oldest building in the palace complex, the ancient Nalukettu, is now home to a heritage museum, which showcases Keralites’ traditional lifestyle.

In 1898, under the reign of Maharaja Rama Varma (1895–1914), the construction of the northern block of the main complex, designed by European engineers, was completed. Rama Varma also built the cabinet hall and the nearby building on the middle block. The cabinet hall's one-of-a-kind lift, Victorian tiles with floral motifs on its exterior wall, and the metallic decorative ceiling reveal extravagant craftsmanship. All these elements were reportedly imported from England.

The Hill Palace, designed in the traditional Kerala style of architecture, with a mix of Indian and European styles, served as the seat of the royal family until the 1970s, when it was converted into a museum. After the passing of Rama Varma Pareekshit Thampuran in 1964, the complex fell under the control of the Palace Administration Board. The lease of the palace was given to the University of Cochin in 1972 by the board. The palace structure and the adjacent area were subsequently purchased by the State Department of Archaeology in 1981. At the time, the majority of the buildings and a sizable area of the garden were in a decrepit condition. In 1984, the department refurbished and altered the garden and initiated reforms to the buildings and their surroundings, converting them into an archaeology museum, which became open to public in May 1986.

The Hill Palace Museum is one of the few museums in the country that leaves its visitors awestruck by the sheer beauty of its architecture. The intricate carvings on the wooden pillars, the sloping roofs, and the colorful murals on the walls seem to blend seamlessly, creating a harmonious whole. It is undoubtedly an aesthetic testament to the region's rich history and cultural legacy.

Situated 14 kilometers from Kochi, The Hill Palace is Kerala's largest archaeological and heritage museum, housing everything from the various museums to various parks, namely Deer Park, Prehistoric Park, and Children's Park. There are also various medicinal and herbal plants all around the palace. A botanical garden within the complex consists of exotic species of tropical trees brought in from Australia and Central America. Amidst these naturally, archaeologically, and artistically rich environs, the renowned Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu was also filmed.

As one walks through the palace gates, they are immediately struck by the grandeur of the place. The lush green gardens dotted with palm trees seem to stretch out endlessly. With its distinctive sloping roofs and intricate carvings, the palace looks like it has been plucked straight out of a fairy tale. Different sections of the museum showcase different aspects of the region's history and culture.

One of the most fascinating sections in the museum is the gallery of ancient weaponry and stone sculptures, some of whose assorted objects date back to the tenth century. Rare silver and bronze metal wares from the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries are also on display here. The historical museum offers a distinctive collection of antiquated utensils, artifacts, and objects used during religious worship. Apart from this gallery, the archaeological museum is renowned for its extensive collection of plaster cast replicas of artifacts going back to the Indus Valley Civilization's towns, Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. Some fascinating exhibits include the gallery of chariots, wooden carvings, oil paintings of maharajas, the numismatic gallery, an exhibition of crowns and jewellery, and the epigraphy gallery.