Kanakakkunnu Palace is on Sooryakanthi Road in Nanthancodu, Thiruvananthapuram, a short distance from the Napier Museum. Sree Moolam Thirunal of Travancore had it built in the 19th century, in a colonial style with a traditional Kerala facade. Today the grounds work as a cultural venue, with landscaped gardens, two auditoriums and an open-air amphitheatre. Entry is free. The compound is lit up in the evening, and at Christmas it is decorated with coloured lights. Check the event calendar before you go, because concerts and exhibitions change what a visit looks like.
Built for royal guests
Kanakakkunnu Palace was built during the reign of Sree Moolam Thirunal, the Maharaja of Travancore. It dates to the 19th century, and 1885 is the year most often given. It was meant as a guest house among the hills and greenery, a place to entertain visitors of the royal court.
There was a practical reason for a separate house. The official residence of the Travancore royal family served only vegetarian food, while many of the guests preferred non-vegetarian meals. The palace was where they were hosted. It was later used as a popular summer retreat, and it was also the official residence of Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer during his time as Dewan.
Architecture and what you see outside
The building combines colonial architecture with a typical Kerala facade. It belongs to the Victorian period and is often called Kerala-Gothic. Red-brick walls with white stone dressings are part of its look.
The details to look for are the woodwork, the elegant verandas and the wide lawns around the building. The palace sits among trees, on ground that rises in places, so the setting is as much a part of the visit as the structure.
Gardens, auditoriums and events
The palace is now a cultural centre rather than a museum. Music and dance performances, exhibitions and art festivals take place in the complex. The All India Dance Festival has been held on the grounds. The Nishagandhi and Sooryakanthi auditoriums host concerts and exhibitions, and there is also an open-air amphitheatre.
The gardens are laid out as the first digital garden in a public place in India. Plants carry QR codes that you scan to read about the species. In the evening the grounds are lit, and during the Christmas season the compound is decorated with coloured lights, which draws families and visitors to walk through after dark.
Getting there
The palace is about 800 metres north-east of the Napier Museum, so the two are easy to combine in one outing. Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is about 3 km away, and Trivandrum International Airport is about 5 km.
There is a paid parking lot, along with free and paid street parking. The entrance, seating and parking lot are wheelchair accessible, and the grounds suit children.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is there an entry fee at Kanakakkunnu Palace?
No, admission is free. Some events inside the complex may have their own arrangements, so check the programme for the one you plan to attend.
Where is Kanakakkunnu Palace?
It is on Sooryakanthi Road in Kanaka Nagar, Nanthancodu, Thiruvananthapuram. It is about 800 metres north-east of the Napier Museum.
How far is it from the railway station and the airport?
Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is about 3 km away. Trivandrum International Airport is about 5 km away.
What is there to do at the palace?
You can walk the gardens and scan the QR codes in the digital garden, and see the colonial-style building from outside. Concerts, dance performances and exhibitions are held in the auditoriums and the amphitheatre.
Is Kanakakkunnu Palace wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance, the seating and the parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
Is it a good place to visit with children?
Yes, the open grounds suit families. The evening lights and the Christmas decorations are popular with younger visitors.
