Hill Palace Museum

Composed of 49 buildings, the Hill Palace is Kerala’s biggest archaeological museum. Visitors wander its 13 galleries to view ancient and modern items spanning everything from Stone Age finds to medieval inscriptions, carvings, coins, pottery, royal jewelry, and 20th-century portraiture. A separate heritage complex also displays traditional Keralan household items illustrating bygone local life.

The Hill Palace Museum is one of Kochi’s top attractions. Explore on your own self-guided visit or book a guided tour that includes return transportation and a guide to enrich your understanding of the displays. Alternatively, visit on a more comprehensive tour of Kochi for a broader perspective on the palace’s and city’s backstory. The museum also features on many multi-day Kerala tours, which cover Kochi’s sights before encompassing the state’s landscapes and backwaters.

• The Hill Palace Museum will intrigue anyone interested in Kerala’s cultural, royal, and architectural history.

• The museum is not wheelchair-accessible.

• No photography is allowed inside; visitors must leave personal belongings, shoes, cell phones, and cameras in lockers before entering.

• Set aside two hours for an independent visit.

• Restrooms are available on-site.

The Hill Palace is located in Kochi’s eastern Tripunithura suburb, 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Fort Kochi and 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) from Ernakulam, Kerala’s commercial center. Given the challenges of self-drive in India, most visitors use cabs or auto-rickshaws to get to the museum: it’s a 15- or 20-minute ride from Ernakulam or Fort Kochi, respectively. Alternatively, catch a train to Tripunithura station, where public buses run to the museum.

The Hill Palace is open year-round, Tuesday-Sunday, from 9am–12:30pm and 2pm–4:30pm. It’s closed for national holidays. Opening hours can vary, so check the timings before visiting. The busiest periods are during school terms, and late mornings and early afternoons, so to explore at the quietest times, arrive early or later in the day.

If you can only visit briefly, zoom in on the Hill Palace’s most prized artifacts. Head for the Epigraphy Gallery to see an age-old copy of the Thora written on crinkly goat skin—it’s something to behold. Other must-sees include an original royal throne and a 16th-century jewel-encrusted gold crown presented to one of Kochi’s maharajahs.