Kanakakunnu Palace

About this place

Kanakakkunnu Palace, situated on a hillock in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, is a historic landmark from the Travancore era and today serves as an important cultural venue in the capital city. The palace is believed to have been built during the reign of Sree Moolam Thirunal (1885–1924), originally serving as a guest house and a venue for royal banquets and gatherings, particularly for visiting dignitaries and foreigners. A later southern block was added during the reign of Sree Chithira Thirunal. The striking red-brick building, distinguished by white stone dressings, combines Kerala architectural traditions with Western influences and features large windows, spacious halls, a dignified neoclassical entrance portico and a circular hall. Inside, the palace retains decorative elements including crystal chandeliers and pieces of royal furniture that reflect its association with the Travancore court. The surrounding grounds are an important part of the attraction, with meadows, groves, flowering shrubs and landscaped areas creating an open green setting close to some of Thiruvananthapuram’s principal cultural institutions. The palace complex is also home to India’s first digital garden, where visitors can use QR codes to access information about plants, including their botanical names, species, native regions and distribution. This combination of heritage architecture and technology gives the site a distinctive contemporary dimension while retaining its historic character. Kanakakkunnu Palace is no longer a private royal residence; its premises are used for public cultural programmes, exhibitions, seminars and other government-supported events. The complex includes the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium and the Sooryakanthi auditorium, which accommodate cultural and public programmes. The palace grounds have become particularly associated with classical dance and music performances, literary events and seasonal festivals. The annual Nishagandhi Dance Festival, organised by the Department of Tourism, has been held at the palace complex and forms part of Thiruvananthapuram’s cultural calendar. Its location close to the Napier Museum and Thiruvananthapuram Zoo also places Kanakakkunnu within an important cluster of cultural attractions. The palace grounds are used by local residents as well as visitors, giving the historic property a continuing role in the everyday cultural life of the city. With its Travancore-era history, distinctive architecture, landscaped surroundings, digital garden and active programme of public events, Kanakakkunnu Palace represents the transition of a former royal venue into a contemporary cultural space while retaining important links to Kerala’s royal heritage.

🚆 Railway: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station – approximately 3 km.

✈️ Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport – approximately 5 km.

🚌 Bus: Kanakakkunnu Palace is centrally located and accessible by local city buses from Thiruvananthapuram. East Fort Bus Stand is approximately 3.6 km away.

🏨 Stay: Hotels, guesthouses and homestays are available in central Thiruvananthapuram, including areas around Vellayambalam, Palayam and Kowdiar.

✅ Notes: The palace is a public cultural venue and hosts programmes, exhibitions and festivals. The first digital garden in India is located on the palace premises. Event dates, venue access and programme timings vary according to the scheduled activities, so visitors should check current event information before visiting.