Located at the heart of the city, Kanakakunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram ( Endowed with a wide variety of flora and fauna, wildlife, beaches, mountains, and backwaters, Thiruvananthapuram always increases the happiness quotient in visitors to the district ) district plays a welcoming host to a multitude of cultural events, seminars and other programmes. Its proximity to a number of important tourist sites, including the Napier Museum and Trivandrum Zoo, has made it an important part of the daily workings of the city.
Situated on a hillock, the palace is said to have been built during the rule of the erstwhile king of Travancore Sri Moolam Thirunal in the 19th century. Constructed to serve as a guest house, the red-bricked structure is made of white stone dressings.
An amalgam of Kerala and Gothic styles of architecture, the heritage building has a circular hall along with a dignified neoclassical entrance portico. Inside the building, tourists can see a set of beautiful crystal chandeliers and an array of exquisite pieces of royal furniture.
The architectural beauty is complemented by meadows, groves and flowering shrubs. The first digital garden in India is on palace premises and any of the plants in the gardens can be scanned using a QR code scanner to get details like botanical name, species, nativity and distribution.
Over the years, the palace has become a meeting point for locals who enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the premises. Also, the premises come alive during the all-India dance festival organized by the Department of Tourism every year from October to March. People from far-off places troop in to witness bewitching classical performances.
The nearby tourist attractions include Napier Museum, Trivandrum Zoo, Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, East Fort, Kuthira Malika and Kovalam Beach.
You must not miss this elegant beauty if you are touring Thiruvananthapuram city.
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is about 3 km away
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport is 5 km away
