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Historical Places in Kerala

 Locally known as the Dutch Palace, the Mattancherry Palace is a Portuguese style museum displaying the paraphernalia crafts belonging to the majestic rajas of Kochi. You can learn a lot about the fascinating history of Kerala on your visit to this museum. 

The distinct feature about this museum lies in the simplicity of the mansion which used to be reserved for the novelty of Kochi. There are 4 separate wings of this palace along with a courtyard and a temple. There are several murals of rajas of Kochi displayed in the exhibition which have been painted in warm colors. 

Location: Fort Kochi

Timings:10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed on Fridays)

Price: Adult: INR 2, Kids (up to 15 years): Free

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Located in Ernakulam district of Kerala, Fort Kochi is the first European fort built on Indian soil. It is renowned for its Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial architecture and detailed bamboo fishing nets sold at Fort Kochi beach. The famous St. Francis Church built on the Fort Kochi beach is the original burial site of famous explorer Vasco Da Gama.

 You can find an array of upscale eateries and cafes serving elegant and authentic Kerala cuisines here. This popular historical monument in Kerala also houses contemporary art galleries where local artists gather to showcase their art and crafts in the heart of Kochi.

Location: Ernakulam, Kerala

Timings: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed on Fridays)

Price: Adult: INR 20, Kids (up to 15 years): Free

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Bolgatty Palace is a scenic and the oldest Dutch Palace outside of Holland. It was built in 1744 by Dutch traders and was later on surrounded by gardens to give a beautiful picturesque view under the command of Dutch Malabar. After India’s independence this palace was handed over to the state and then converted into a lavish resort.

Exploring the entire palace will take up a duration of 2-3 hours so you must plan your day accordingly. You can find several famous monuments in Kerala in the vicinity of this Palace.

Location: Mulavukad, Kochi, Kerala

Timings: Open 24 hours

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The Thalassery Fort is an ancient monument in Kerala situated on the Thalassery beach with massive walls and doors. It is built on a rocky cliff so you will get a great view of the entire city from the top. It was established in 1703 by the East India Company to impose the power and strength of the ruling party.

The fort is now overlooked by the Archaeological Survey of India which comprises lighthouse and large gateway. This fort got its fame after being featured in the Malayalam movie, Pazhassiraja for a brief moment. 

Location: Near Thalassery New Bus Stand Kanyakumari, Panvel Highway, Pilakool, Thalassery, Kerala 670103

Timings: Everyday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Price: Adult: INR 10

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Located in Tripunithura, Hill Palace is the largest archeological museum in the state of Kerala. It is the official residence and imperial administrative office of Cochin Maharaja and was built in 1865. The palace is spread across 54 hectares of land and consists of 49 traditional architectural style buildings.

The complex has an archeological museum, a deer park, a children’s park and a heritage museum to entertain visitors of all ages. The palace is approximately 10 kilometers away from the city center and is easily accessible by road.

Location: Hill Palace Rd, Irumpanam, Thrippunithura, Ernakulam, Kerala 682301

Timings: Everyday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Price:  Adult: INR 10, Child: INR 5

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Also known as “Pilgrim Capital of Kerala”, Pathanamthitta is a town in Kerala immersed with spirituality and charisma. It is a land of untouched beauty and is very popular as the headquarters of pilgrims in Kerala. You can find fascinating topography of lush green valleys and lowlands built by three different rivers merging into the town.

The locals also practice the art of “vaasthu vidya” in the village of Vassthu Vidya Gurukulam and are welcoming to tourists who are keen to learn the same.

Location: Pathanamthitta, Kerala

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Located approximately 800 meters north east of Napier Museum, Kanakakunnu Palace is India’s first digital garden and a significant historical place in Kerala. It was built by University of Kerala in collaboration with the Department of Botany and now serves as a venue for multiple cultural meetings and programmes.

The major highlight of the palace is the annual India Dance festival organised at this venue, and is held every year in the months of October to March.

Location: Kanaka Nagar, Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695033

Timings: Everyday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Monday closed)

Built in 1932, Halcyon castle was built by M.R.Ry Sri Rama Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran as a memoir for Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi and her family. It was then sold to the Kerala government in 1964 and converted into a luxury hotel. The castle depicts traditional Kerala style architecture and maintained lawns at its finest.

Since it is located in the prime location of Kovalam beach you can reach all the major tourist attractions near the place quickly.

Location: Halcyon Castle, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695527

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Once a majestic palace ruled by a local ruler, Punnathur kotta Elephant Palace is now the most famous historical fort in Kerala. The unique feature about the palace is that it houses and trains around 60 elephants in the central courtyard. The oldest elephant here is 82 years old and is very friendly and warm to the visitors.

Many festivals are organised here to worship Lord Krishna attracting his devotees from all across the globe. The best time to visit this palace is early in the morning as it is not crowded and you can catch all the elephants in full swing.

Location: Kottapadi Road, Trishul, Iringaprom, Kerala 680505

Timings: Everyday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Price:  Adult: 10 INR

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Krishnapuram Palace and Museum is one of the most renowned historical monuments in Kerala because of its authentic architectural style. It was constructed in the 18th century by the Travancore kingdom and is now preserved by the Kerala State Department of Archaeology.

Tourists from all across, visit the Palace for the large pond situated within the complex and a unique Kerala style mural called “Gajendra Moksham” which is 154 square feet in size.

Location: Oachira Rd, near Krishnapuram, Kayamkulam, Kerala 690533

Timings: Everyday 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Monday closed)

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Napier Museum is one of the most famous art and natural history museums of Kerala. It is located in Thiruvananthapuram and was established in the 19th century. It houses Trivandrum Zoo which is one of the oldest zoological gardens of India and is spread over 55 acres of land.

You can also find a unique art gallery called the Sree Chitra Art gallery displaying a rare collection of historic and archeological artifacts and ornaments. This museum is considered to be the landmark of the city due to its beautiful architectural style.

Location: LMS Vellayambalam Rd, near Museum Junction, Kanaka Nagar, Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695033

Timings: Everyday 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Aryankavu is a significant pilgrim hub of Kollam district in Kerala. The main tourist attraction of the place is the ancient temple of Lord Sastha which attracts his devotees from all over the world. The mural paintings done by the local craftsmen on the walls and pillars are really fascinating.

During the month of December, the Mandala Pooja is organised by the temple committee which is an amazing event to experience on your visit to Kerala. If you wish to explore nature, you can also find Palavari waterfall within the vicinity of the temple.

Location: Kollam

The Matri Dei Cathedral is one of the largest and oldest cathedrals of India. It is built in Roman style of architecture and traces back to 1513 AD. The main feature of this cathedral is that it houses a 200 years old portrait of St. Mary who is known as the Mother of God Cathedral.

Locally this church is known as Devamatha Palli. There are also huge statues of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the church.

Location: Convent Road, Near DISTRICT COURT KOZHIKODE, Mananchira, Kozhikode, Kerala 673032

Timings: Everyday 6:00 AM - 6:30 PM

The Cochin Jewish Synagogue or locally termed as “Paradesi Synagogue” is a fascinating synagogue located in the Mattancherry Jew Town of Kochi. It was constructed in 1568 AD as a memoir for the Paradesi Jewish community. It is one of the oldest, currently active synagogues in India and the British Commonwealth nations.

The complex comprises four buildings including the Mattancherry Palace temple and the Mattancherry synagogue. Locals often visit here to offer their prayers or to meditate in a serene environment.

Location: Synagogue Ln, Jew Town, Kappalandimukku, Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala 682002

Timings: Everyday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Located in the Kottayam district, the Poonjar Palace is a gorgeous historical monument in Kerala. This palace stands as a testimony of the bygone era and exalted times of ruling parties and royal families. It has a unique collection of jewel boxes, sculptures of Nataraj, chandeliers, and different types of exotic furniture, available for sale.

You can get a rejuvenating Ayurvedic massage to release all the exertion and tension from your body.

Location: PHC Rd, Panachippara, Poonjar, Kerala 686581

Being a significant part of one of the best historical museums of Kerala, the Kerala Folklore Museum aims to teach people about the importance of art. It is a prominent pit stop for all art lovers and students from all across the globe as they provide visual and academic knowledge about different forms of art.

It also exhibits treasured artifacts and jewellery built from stone, bronze, wood dating back to the Stone Age. You can purchase the ornaments and wooden work as a souvenir as well from their gift shop.

Location: Near, 2059C No 26 Pandit Karuppan Road, Thevara Ferry Road, Junction, Kochi, Kerala 682013

Timings: Everyday 9:00 AM -6:00 PM

Price: INR 100 per head

Rock-cut temples were the first and foremost temple architecture in Kerala dating back to 800 AD. They exhibit Pallava and Pandya style architecture and have carved images of Shaivite cult deities. Most of the rock-cut temples were unnoticed for hundreds of years and were later discovered by the ruling parties.

They are now preserved by the Archeological Department of Kerala. Some of the major and frequently visited temples include Kallil Bhagavathy Rock cut cave temple, Kottukal Thrikkovil Cave temple, Trikkur Mahadeva Rock-cut temple, Kaviyoor Thrikkakudy Cave Temple and many more.

Location: Multiple Locations

Timings: Open 24 hours

Price: Free entry

Karumadikuttan is the local name of a Buddha Statue located in Karumadi near Alappuzha, Kerala. The literal meaning of the name is “boy from Karumadi”. It is a three feet tall, black, granite statue tracing back to the 14th century. It is said that it was initially abandoned for centuries in a stream and was later discovered by a colonial British engineer.

Currently the statue is overlooked by the Kerala state government and is one of the most important historical monuments in Kerala.

Location: Alappuzha District, Karumadi, Kerala 688562

Timings: Everyday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Price: Free entry

Located in Thiruvananthapuram, the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is considered as one of the richest places to worship in the world. The temple is built in a fusion of Chera style and Malayala Tamilian style architecture with high walls and a 16th century gopura.

There are numerous festivals that are associated with this temple held every year. The Panguni festival and the Aippasi festival, held biannually, hold great significance in Kerala culture.

Location: West Nada, Fort, East Fort, Pazhavangadi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695023

Timings: Everyday 3:30 AM - 8:30 PM

Price: Free entry