Spread across 54 acres, Hill Place Museum is the largest Museum in Kerala. A traditional Kerala Style architectural wonder, this erstwhile palace complex of Cochin Rajas has 49 buildings. It also houses a heritage museum, a deer park, a pre-historic park and a children's park. Many rare species of medicinal plants are found here.
The Royal Crown and ornaments of the Cochin Royal Family is exhibited in the Main Museum. Most of the museum pieces are passed by the Royal Family of Cochin and includes Paintings, royal furniture, Sculptures in marble and stone, coins, epigraphic samples, weapons etc.
MUSEUM OF KERALA HISTORY
Located in Edappally, Kochi the museum has three galleries named ‘The Museum of Kerala history’, ‘The Dolls Museum’ and the ‘Gallery of Modern Art’. This is the oldest art and history museums in Kochi. Walk through the museum and you will be experiencing a journey through the history of Kerala by. Light and Sound show with English and Malayalam commentaries is being done for the visitors. Eminent personalities of Kerala history including Senguttvan, ST. Thomas, Cheraman Perumal, Shankaracharya, Nannan of Ezhimla, Kulasekhara Alwar etc are featured here by life-size representations. You will be greeted by the statue of the creator of Kerala, Lord Parsurama.
KERALA FOLKLORE MUSEUM
Located at Thevara Kochi, this is a museum for everything from Folk art, Tribal art, Traditional art, Anthropology, Architecture, History, Culture and Heritage. The Kerala Folklore Museum building is a uniquely styled three storied work of art in wood and brick. Each floor represents the architectural styles of Malabar, Kochi and Travancore. The entrance is made out of the remnants of the 16th-century temple in Tamil Nadu and from wooden carvings from Kerala. The entrance door flaunts a 'manichitratazhu' (the traditional ornate door lock of Kerala). Malabar styled pierced wooden windows can also see near to this.
The museum houses around 4000 pieces from the bygone era. It is a treasure chest exhibiting the rich cultural heritage of Kerala by depicting its arts and dance forms. Costumes of traditional and ritual dance forms, masks, musical instruments, sculptures made of wood, stone, bronze, manuscripts of rare medicinal and astrological secrets, Stone Age utensils and traditional Jewellery are displayed with utmost care.
The first floor is named as Kalithattu (floor for play) and follows traditional Cochin style of architecture. The costumes of traditional and ritual dance forms of Kerala like Theyyam Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Ottamthullal are artfully displayed here. The second floor is named as 'Kanjadalam' (lotus petal). Mesmerising mural paintings are displayed here. The top floor is the perfect stage for the live performance of traditional ritual and dance forms every evening.
