Arakkalkettu / Arakkal Palace

The Arakkalkettu / Arakkal Palace is the residence of the Arakkal Ali Rajas, They were the kings who ruled parts of the coast and Lakshadweep island. The palace is located at Ayikkara, next to the Kannur City Moideen Masjid, which is about 3 kilometers from the town of Kannur. This Arakkal Royal family has had a prominent role in the history of the Malabar province of South India,

Arakkal family was the only muslim royal family in the state of Kerala in South India, The durbar hall of the Arakkalkettu / Arakkal Palace has been converted in to a museum and dedicated to the Arakkal Royal family.  Arakkal Museum showcases the history of their rule and the regional influence of the Arakkal 'Rajas' (male rulers). The female rulers were called 'Beevis' in their time of authority.

The exhibits which are show cased in the durbar hall consists of old records, maps and drawings of surveys and many other manuscripts. These records will throw light on the maritime activities of the family, the way they conducted their trade and their relationship with the European colonial powers, who were trying to put a foot in the soil.

The 2 century old Arakkal palace was renovated by the Government of India and dedicated to the nation in 2005, The property is still with the Arakkal family and is looked after by their family trust. A nominal entry fee is being charged by the Arakkal family trust from visitors to the museum.

How to Reach Arakkal Museum?
If you are travelling by air, Kozhikode International airport is the nearest one and is well connected to neighbouring cities.  Dubai, Muscat, Singapore are also connected to Kozhikode airport with direct flights.
Kannur is well connected by rail and road and so it is easily accessible from any part of India.

Hill Palace Museum, Kochi

Hill Palace Museum, once the residence of the royal famly of Kochi is now the largest Archaeological museum of Kerala. This Palace was built  in 1865. Hill Palace is located at about 12 kilometers from Cochin on the Kochi Chottanikkara Road.
The Hill Palace is set amongst the sprawling estate of 52 acres with lush green plantations and lawns all over. There are  49 buildings built in the traditional Kerala style of Architecture and terraced land with ponds, fountains and landscaped lawns. Hill Palace  is a fullfledged archaeological museum and a first ever Ethno Archaeological and Heritage museum as well.

Inside the Museum Complex
The palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style bed land with ponds, fountains and lawns. A full fledged ethno archaeological museum and Kerala's first ever Heritage museum are the main attractions here.
There is an 'ettukettu' constructed  in the typical Kerala style is the oldest building in the whole complex which is said to have been constructed around 1850 AD. There is  an adjacent pond, temple and urappura in that ettukettu construction.
The other buildings which are found in the complex  are a combination of traditional and western architecture and the latest construction seems to be a 3 storeyed western style one constructed in 1950.  This new building is functioning  as the office for the Hill palace Museum..

History of the Hill Palace Museum
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. Set on top of a hillock and surrounded by terraced garden with fountains, ponds and lawns, this palace-turned-museum displays 14 categories of exhibits including paintings, murals, sculpture in stone and plaster of paris, manuscripts, inscriptions, carvings etc. The collections displayed in the museum are mainly from the Travancore Royal House, Paliam Devaswom and from the department of Archaeology. It has a gold crown embedded with precious stones and many valuable coins, ornaments, majestic beds and samples of epigraphy.
The museum also displays 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from China and Japan, Kudakkallu (tomb stone), Thoppikkallu (hood stone), menhirs, granite, laterite memorials, rock cut weapons belonging to the stone age, wooden temple models. There is an amazing array of plaster cast models of objects from Mohanjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley civilization of North India. The museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art.

About Paliam Gallery
Paliam gallery in the museum contains the collections donated by the Paliyathachan's family. Paliyathachan's were hereditary Prime Ministers to the Cochin Maharaja’s for a long period. This gallery was opened in 1991.  The gallery of cabinet Hall displays royal furniture's including the 'Simhasana' (the throne or the king's chair).

Timings - 9.00 to 12.30 hrs. and 14.00 to 16.30 hrs.
Open on all days except Mondays.