Kanakakkunnu Palace

Kanakakkunnu Palace stands on a hill in the middle of Thiruvananthapuram, surrounded by lawns and gardens. It was built during the reign of Sree Moolam Thirunal (1885 to 1924) as a retreat for the Travancore royal family, who held banquets and balls here. The name joins kanakam, meaning gold, and kunnu, meaning hill.

The building mixes Kerala and colonial styles, with a red-tiled roof, columns, decorated balconies and carved woodwork. Inside are chandeliers, period furniture, paintings and carved wooden ceilings. The Durbar Hall, once used for royal court meetings, has a high ceiling and good acoustics. The Government of Kerala now runs the palace as a cultural centre, and concerts, festivals and official events are held in its halls and gardens.