Koyikkal Palace

Nestled amid verdant lawns in Nedumangad, just 16 km from Thiruvananthapuram city center, Koyikkal Palace was built in the 16th century for Umayamma Rani of the Venad royal family. This graceful two-storeyed Nalukettu—with its sloping tiled roofs, intricately carved wooden pillars, and a central courtyard paved in granite—exemplifies Kerala’s medieval architectural mastery. A small pond and attached temple hint at the palace’s ritual life, while legends whisper of an underground passage that once linked it to another royal residence.

Koyikkal Palace: From Royal Residence to Treasure House of Heritage

After a careful restoration in 1979, the palace reopened its doors as a living museum under the Kerala State Department of Archaeology. On the ground floor, the Numismatics Museum displays a dazzling array of coins and medals—from Roman denarii and Indo-Dutch guilders to local Ottaputhen and Kaliyugarayan Panam—tracing centuries of Kerala’s trade and diplomacy. Above, the Folklore Museum, established in 1992, immerses you in local customs with exhibits of household utensils, ritual masks, life-size Theyyam and Thira effigies, and rare musical instruments such as the Chandravalayam and Nanthuni used in epic recitals and Onappattu songs.

Visitor Information

Koyikkal Palace is open (all days except Mondays) from 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4 PM. The entry fee for Koyikkal Palace is INR 20 for adults and INR 10 for kids. One should pay INR 40 for a still camera and INR 500 for a Video camera. Koyikkal Palace is located just 16 kilometers away from the Thiruvananthapuram city center, and it is easy to reach the palace by road. Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station is located 18 kilometers away, and the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is located 21 kilometers away from Koyikkal Palace. Limited parking is available on site. For a serene glimpse of Kerala’s regal past and folk traditions, Koyikkal Palace remains an unmissable stop.