Kanakakunnu Palace

Today the Kanakakunnu Palace and its sprawling grounds are the venue for many cultural meets and programmes. An all India Dance Festival (October to March) is organised by the Department of Tourism every year. During this period the classical Indian Dance performances are conducted every day. It is said to be built by Sree Moolam Thirunal and had  been later used by the Travancore royal family to entertain its guests and serve non vegetarian food as the royal family was vegetarian. Later Swathi Thirunal, one of Travancore’s popular rulers, refurbished the palace and constructed  a tennis court in the premises. He also did use it for a few years as a summer retreat. Boasting a Kerala style facade,  Inside you will see massive crystal chandeliers and an array of exquisite pieces of royal furniture – a testimony to the lavish lifestyle of the Thirunal kings who had a penchant for music and art. Add to it a picturesque setting on the crest of a small hill lush with meadows, grooves and flowering shrubs.

It is now protected by the tourism department and the Kanakakunnu Palace plays host to a lot of cultural meets and programs. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has listed this place as a heritage monument. Now under the Kerala government’s wing, the palace complex walls-in the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium and Sooryakanthi auditorium. A popular haunt of culture vultures in the city, the auditoriums are the venues for various cultural meets and programs. The prestigious All India Dance Festival aka Nishagandhi festival is hosted annually by the Department of Tourism at the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium. Indian classical dance exponents from across the country come down to participate in the festival.

Unlike other cities, Trivandrum offers its residents a multitude of places to de-stress and relax. And no other city in Kerala can boast of a beautiful palace surrounded by a well maintained greenery than Kanakakunnu palace. Be it a warm morning, a hot afternoon, a breezy evening or a cool night, this place is just the right space to relax after a hectic day. The Napier museum and the zoo is just on the other side of the road. The Government organises various programs in the same venue. The Onam celebrations here are state sponsored and done with much pomp and show. So, if you are from Trivandrum, be proud of your little treasure. Because, it's something others can only dream of, but never have.

Kanakakunnu Palace is visited by history lovers and locals throughout the year. Hence, it is a year-round destination. However, if you are looking forward to avoiding the hot sun and the humidity of Trivandrum, then the best time to visit is from October until the end of March, as during this period the humidity level is at a mean level and the weather is cool and pleasant.

 
Getting there
Nearest railway station  : Trivandrum central , about 4km  away
Nearest airport : Trivandrum international airport,  about 7 km away
Google map coordinates :