Dutch Palace Mattancherry, Kochi

The Dutch Palace is situated in Mattancherry, Kochi. This palace is also known as Mattancherry palace. The Mattancherry Palce exhibits Hindu temple art, portraits and beloging of the Rajas of Kochi. The Dutch Palace Mattancherry is built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Kochi Veera Kerala Varma in 1555. But the name Dutch Palace is given in 1663, owing to the extension works carried out by the Dutch. Now the Dutch Palace Mattancherry, Kochi is a tourist spot that attracts both foreign and local tourists. The palace, exhibits ceremonial robes, headdresses, weapons, palanquins, furniture murals, depicting scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranic legends connected with Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, Kumara, and Durga. Inside the Palace there are three temples, they are of 'Pazhayannur Bhagavati', Lord Krishna and Lord Siva.
Also read: Hill palace museum Thripunithura

Thrissur Zoo and Museum

Thrissur Zoo and Museum is located right at the heart of Thrissur (Old Trichur) city just outside the famous "Thrissur round", and it is just 70 km away from Kochi. Thrissur Zoo and Museum is started functioning in 1885. Thrissur Zoo & Museum occupy around 13.5 acres of land in the heart of Thrissur metro. The zoo is is comparatively less but houses some interesting stuff for your kids. The museum located inside the zoo campus exhibit a lot of historical articles including sculpture, religious idols, kathakali figures, traditional jewelers of Kerala and votive objects with a really delightful collection of traditional lamps. Thrissur Zoo & Museum is opened for public from 10 am till 6:30 pm, on all days except Mondays. The zoo entrance ticket costs a nominal fee of Rs. 5 for the adults and Rs. 3 for with children up to the age of 14 years and your cameras may costs you some additional bucks. This zoo houses rare animals like lion tailed macaque, tiger, lion, deer, sloth bears, monkeys, hippopotamus, camels, species of birds and deer, King Cobras, Kraits, Vipers and Rat Snakes etc. It is a Kerala Government Institution.This is one of the perfect picnic spots for your young kids.

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Hill palace museum Thripunithura

The Hill Palace Museum Thiruvankulam (Thripunithura) was the official residence of the Kochi royal family in nineteenth century. The Hill Palace, Thiruvankulam is now the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. The museum displays 14 categories of exhibits including murals, paintings, sculptures in stone and plaster of Paris, manuscripts, inscriptions, carvings etc. The collections displayed in the museum are mainly from the Cochin Royal Family. 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from Japan and China, Kudakkallu (tomb stone), Thoppikkallu (hood stone), menhirs, granite, laterite memorials, rock cut weapons from the stone ages, wooden temple models, plaster cast models of objects from Mohanjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art. Paliam gallery in the museum contains the collections donated by the Paliyathachan's (the hereditary Prime Ministers to the Cochin Maharaja’s for a long period) family. The museum is situated in a land or around 52 acres and full of vegetation and a deer park. The Hill Palace, Thiruvankulam complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional Kerala style. The Hill Palace, Thiruvankulam was built in 1865 by the Maharaja of Cochin. The latest construction is carried out in 1950 and it is a western style building. Hill Palace is located 16 km east of Cochin in Thiruvankulam, near Trippunithura. Tourists can reach this museum by road. It is open to public on all days except Mondays from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Hill palace museum Thripunithura is one best place for your family to spend a holiday and get some insight into Kerala History.