A cultural institution under the Department of Culture, Government of Kerala, Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan is located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city of Kerala.  It is a Multi-Purpose Cultural Complex (MPCC) which serves as a platform for research, documentation, presentation and preservation of Kerala’s art forms and cultural traditions. The institution is governed by an administrative committee chaired by the State Minister for Culture.

Named after Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon, the institution houses his personal belongings.

Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon, a poet ahead of his times
Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon was a poet of Malayalam literature known for his works like ‘Kudiyozhikkal’, ‘Kannikkoythu’ and ‘Mambazham’, which holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Kerala. He was a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry, Vayalar Award, and Odakkuzhal Award in recognition of his contributions to literature. He was the founder president of the’ Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham’, an organisation of artists, writers and art and literature enthusiasts.

A poet with a deep understanding of the human mind, he showed his social commitment through his literary works. 

The unique architecture of the building
The architecture of Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan reflects Kerala's traditional style. It features elements like the ‘padippura’ (traditional gateway) and ‘koothambalam’ (temple theatre). The ‘Koothambalam’, designed by architect Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboodiri has intricate trellis work and teak wood flooring and can accommodate 400 spectators. The complex also has an open-air auditorium, an art gallery, and a museum block, dedicated to promoting Kerala's art and culture.

Promotion of art and culture
Since the year 2004, Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan has been hosting ‘Mudra’, a national dance festival with live performances by eminent classical dancers from different parts of India, lecture demonstrations, seminars and presentations on various aspects of classical dance forms. Throughout the year, performances of ‘Kathakali’ (a dance form of that involves storytelling distinguished by elaborately colourful make-up and costumes), ‘Kutiyattam’ (a traditional art form performing stories from the epics), and ‘Koothu’ (a solo narrative performance interspersed with mime and comic interludes) are held here with the aim of promoting classical art forms of Kerala.

The institution commemorates the death anniversaries of renowned writers such as Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and O. V. Vijayan with events celebrating their contributions to literature.

Documentation and Preservation Efforts
The cultural centre is known for its documentation efforts and maintains cultural archives and a rare collection of Sanskrit books. The T. K. Ramakrishnan Memorial Cultural Library and Research Centre, established in 2008, is part of this cultural complex. The library with a huge collection of books on Kerala’s art and culture caters to students who wish to pursue higher studies or undertake research in this field. The institution also supports websites dedicated to artists.