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Museums of Kochi

HILL PALACE MUSEUM, Tripunithura (**)

The official residence of the Kochi royal family, it is now a full-fledged ethno-archaeological and heritage museum of Kerala. On display are paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, inscriptions, gold crown, royal jewellery and coins etc. It is one of the unique archaeological museums in India which is having a gold-silver jewelery gallery. The main attraction is the gold crown presented to the Maharaja by Vasco da Gamma in 1502 AD. The gold crown weighs 1726 g (22 ct) decorated with 24 Ruby, 95 diamonds and 76 Emerald stones. There are ocimon bead (basil) necklace in silver and gold. Hacocarpus beads from Nepal is also there in the royal jewelery collection.

The crown is kept inside a strong room. Police at the entrance will not permit to take mobile phones and cameras with you. One can keep these things at the counter. Entry fee Rs 20. No inside photography in galleries. Timings: 9 am to 5 p.m on all days except Mondays. Located 10 km from Kochi city. Entry fee : Rs 20.

Dutch palace archaeological museum, Mattancherry

The central hall on the first floor is a portrait gallery of the maharajas. The astonishing fine murals depicting scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. The ladies bed chamber downstairs features a cheerful Lord Krishna using his six hands and two feet to engage in foreplay with eight happy milkmaids.

The exhibits include antiques items from various parts of Kerala. It is located near the Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry. The Dutch palace at Mattancherry, near the harbour, was actually built by the Portuguese in 1557 and later renovated by the Dutch in 1663. 12 km from Kochi. Rs 2, Friday closed, no photography.

A visit to the Ginger Antique shop (*****) will be a memorable experience. It has a huge collection of antiques from all over India. It has a big 'chundan vallom' (boat) in it's array of exhibits. Entry fee Rs 10, photography Rs 50. Another main antique shop is Crafters.

The area around the Synagogue is known as Jew town and is one of the main centres of Spices (ginger, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, cloves, pepper etc) and antiques trade (there's a plethora of shops selling antiques and reproductions).

Museums of Fort Kochi

Indo Portuguese museum located in the Bishop house (Diocese of Kochi). closed on Monday and public holidays. Another cultural village is Greenix village near the Boat jetty, where one can view the various art forms of Kerala viz the Kalaripayattu (martial art), Kathakali and other folk dance forms.

MUSEUM OF KERALA HISTORY, Edapally

Life size figures depict important landmarks of civilization from neolithic to the modern era, This museum helps to narrate the past two thousand years of the history of Kerala. The International Dolls museum is an added attraction.

Timings: The light and sound show – 10 a.m, 10.30 a.m, 11 a.m, 11.30 a.m, 12 noon, 2.p.m, 2.30 p.m, 3.p.m, 3.30 p.m, 4.p.m. Closed on Mondays and public holidays. Entry Fee: Adult Rs 5, Child Rs 2.

ART GALLERY AND KRISHNA MENON MUSEUM, Kozhikode

The museum’s most significant section is devoted to Krishna Menon. The art gallery houses the arts and craft of Kerala, mainly paintings and carvings in wood and ivory.