Established | 1865 |
---|---|
Location | Thrippunithura, Kochi, India |
Type | Archeological museum, History museum |
Owner | Government of Kerala |
Public transit access | Road, Rail |
Hill Palace is an archaeological museum and palace located in the Thrippunithura neighbourhood of Kochi, Kerala. It is the largest archeological museum in the state and was the imperial administrative office and official residence of the Cochin Maharaja. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings spreading across 54 acres (220,000 m2) and built in the traditional architectural style. The complex has an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, a deer park, a pre-historic park and a children's park. [1]
The campus section of the museum is home to several rare species of medicinal plants. Presently, the palace has been converted into a museum by The Kerala State Archaeology Department and is open to the public. The palace is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the city centre and is reachable by road and by rail.
The Centre for Heritage Studies (CHS), an autonomous research and training institute set up by the Department of Cultural Affairs, of the Government of Kerala also functions at the site. The CHS is designated as the 'Manuscript Conservation Centre' (MCC) and 'Manuscript Resource Centre' (MRC) by the National Mission for Manuscripts. [2]
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The Hill Palace was built in 1865 by the Maharaja of Cochin and is now the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. [3]
The official capital of the Kingdom of Kochi was previously located in Thrissur, and the royal office of the Maharaja as well as the court were all located in the city. However, as per ritualistic customs, the seat of the queen of Kochi (Penvazhithampuran) was seen as the royal capital, as the Kochi royal family had matrilineal traditions and the queen was regarded as sovereign of the state under whose authority the king ruled. Since 1755, the queen and her retinue lived in Tripunithura, thereby making the city as the official capital. Further, the prince Rama Varma was raised in Tripunithura, thus he preferred to live in that city even after his coronation as king rather than moving to Thrissur. Thus, for his benefit, a royal office was constructed in 1865. It initially started off as a royal office, court building and offices of royal secretaries and nobles of the court, but soon an increasing number of structures were added to the main structure for various purposes. Soon, an imperial residence building was also constructed for the residence of the king and his immediate family, although other members of the Cochin royal family had their own allocated bungalows and official residences.
The palace was handed over to the government of Kerala by the Cochin royal family, and in 1980, the palace was taken over by the Department of Archaeology and later converted into a museum. It was opened to the public in 1986. The museum and its campus is are popular shooting locations for the Malayalam film industry. The horse cart gallery and weapons gallery house numerous historical artifacts.
The museum gardens are also some of the last green refuge of the town. A checklist of fauna found within the gardens, prepared by Sandeep Varma and Gokul Vinayan, has been published under the title 'The Fauna of Hill Palace'.
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The museum displays 14 categories of exhibits, including the Crown and ornaments of erst from the Cochin royal family's reign, paintings, sculptures in stone and marble, weapons, inscriptions and coins. The major share of attractions in the museum were contributed by the Cochin royal family, with some exhibits from the Paliam Devaswom and the Department of Archaeology. The museum collection includes a gold crown embedded with precious stones and many valuable coins, ornaments, majestic beds and samples of epigraphy. The Malayalam movie Manichitrathazhu was shot here.
The Hill Palace has been the location for many films in Malayalam. Manichitrathazhu is the most famous movie shot at this location, but many filmmakers have utilized this place for shooting purposes. Some popular films [4] shot in the palace include Moonnam Mura (1988), Manichitrathazhu (1993), Pingami (1994), Kaliyoonjal (1997), Dreams (2000) and Chotta Mumbai (2007).
Ernakulam is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, and takes its name from the eponymous city division in Kochi. It is situated in the central part of the state, spans an area of about 2,924 square kilometres (1,129 sq mi), and is home to over 9% of Kerala's population. Its headquarters are located at Kakkanad. The district includes Kochi, also known as the commercial capital of Kerala, which is famous for its ancient Churches, Hindu Temples, Synagogues and Mosques. The district includes the largest metropolitan region of the state: Greater Cochin. Ernakulam is the district that yields the most revenue and the largest number of industries in the state. Ernakulam is the third most populous district in Kerala, after Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram. The district also hosts the highest number of international and domestic tourists in Kerala state.
The Kingdom of Cochin, named after its capital in the city of Kochi (Cochin), was a kingdom in the central part of present-day Kerala state. It commenced at the early part of the 12th century and continued to rule until 1949, when the monarchy was abolished by the Dominion of India.
Aluva is a municipality in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. Aluva is situated 14.5 km (9.0 mi) from Kochi, along the banks of the Periyar River, and is a part of the Kochi metropolitan area. Aluva is a transportation hub, connecting North Malabar and Central Kerala to Kochi. The Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, located 11.7 km (7.3 mi) from Aluva, is an aviation hub hosting both domestic and international flights. Aluva is also the northern terminus of the Kochi Metro.
Thrippunithura is a region in the city of Kochi, India. Thrippunithura is located about 7.1 km (4.4 mi) east of the Kochi city centre, and is a major residential region of the city. Tripunithura being a prominent historical residential region in Kochi, was the capital of the erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin. The Hill Palace situated in Tripunithura was the palace of Maharaja of Cochin, the ruler of Kingdom of Cochin. Thrippunithura is known for its rich culture which includes the annual Vrishchikotsavam festival that takes place at the Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple.
Rama Varma Kunji pillai Thampuran (1751–1805), or Rama Varma IX, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin. The current southern Indian city of Kochi was part of the erstwhile princely state of Kochi. He resided at Vadakkechira Palace in Thrissur. The city of Thrissur is referred to as the Cultural Capital of Kerala owing to its many traditional festivals and historic temples. Sakthan Thampuran is considered the architect of the city of Thrissur. The festival Thrissur Pooram was started by him.
Fort Kochi, Fort Cochin in English, Cochim de Baixo in Cochin Portuguese creole, is a neighbourhood of Cochin (Kochi) city in Kerala, India. Fort Kochi takes its name from the Fort Manuel of Cochin, the first European fort on Indian soil, controlled by the Portuguese East Indies. This is part of a handful of water-bound islands and islets toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Cochin or West Cochin. Adjacent to this is the locality of Mattancherry. In 1967, these three municipalities along with a few adjoining areas, were amalgamated to form the Kochi Municipal Corporation.
Mattancherry, is a historic ward of Kochi, Kerala. It is about 9 km south-west from the city center. Mattanchery is home to many sites of historical and cultural significance, including the Paradesi Synagogue- which was the centre of life in the Jewish Quarter. In addition to the Cochin Jews and Paradesi Jews, Mattanchery is also home to Konkanis and Gujaratis, with the Gujarati street in Mattancherry being a cultural icon for Keralite Gujaratis.
Ernakulam is the central business district of the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. It is the namesake of Ernakulam district. The eastern part of Kochi city is mainly known as Ernakulam, while the western part of it after the Venduruthy Bridge is called as Western Kochi. Many major establishments, including the Kerala High Court, the office of the Kochi Municipal Corporation and the Cochin Shipyard are situated in Ernakulam. It is also the most urbanized area in the city of Kochi.
Thiruvankulam is a census town and revenue village in Thrippunithura municipality, in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. The area is a part of the Kochi metropolitan area. The NH 49 passes through Thiruvankulam. The Karingachira junction is the location of the southern terminus of the Seaport-Airport Road, which connects the Cochin International Airport and the Cochin Port.
Sree Kerala Varma College is a government aided college in Kanattukara, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Founded in 1947 by His Highness Aikya Keralam Thampuran, the Maharaja of erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin. Managed by the Cochin Devaswom Board, Sree Kerala Varma College is an academic institution in Kerala.
Shakthan Thampuran Palace is situated in City of Thrissur in Kerala state, India. It is named as Vadakkekara Palace, was reconstructed in Kerala-Dutch style in 1795 by Ramavarma Thampuran of the erstwhile Princely State of Cochin, well as Sakthan Thampuran is preserved by Archaeological Department. The palace was converted into a museum in 2005 by State.
Maharaja Gangadahra Koviladhikarikal Sri Ravi Varma (1865–1946) was the Maharaja of Cochin, India in 1943–46.
Ramavarmapuram is the northern suburb of Thrissur City in Kerala. This suburban area is home to several governmental and other institutions of national importance. The largest menhir type megalithic monument in granite in Kerala is found here. A local catholic church has recently been adorned with mural paintings in the traditional Kerala style. This is the first instance of such a church decoration in Kerala in modern times.
Sir Sri Rama Varma XV (1852–1932), known as the Rajarshi of Cochin and as Ozhinja Valiya Thampuran, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1895 to 1914.
Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section is a high density railway corridor in Kerala state, India, running from Shoranur Junction in Palakkad district through Thrissur district to Cochin in Ernakulam district. The Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section is strategic and the lifeline of Kerala economy that connects the state to other parts of India. It is central to the provision of fast, long-distance Intercity and Express passenger services between Kerala and other cities of India. It is operated by Thiruvananthapuram railway division of the Southern Railway zone.
Kerala Varma Thampuran popularly known as Aikya Keralam Thampuran or Kerala Varma VII was the Maharaja (king) of Cochin who ruled between 1946 and 1949. He mooted the idea of a unified Kerala state in India for the Malayalam speaking population and stood for the merging of British Malabar, Cochin and Travancore. Therefore, he was given the sobriquet Ikyakeralam Thampuran. He died in July 1948. He was also the brain behind the formation of Sree Kerala Varma College at Thrissur, named after him.
Thampuran may refer to: