  We present H and K band imaging spectroscopy of the core regions of the
cD/AGN galaxy NGC1275. The spectra, including lines from H2, H, 12CO bandheads,
[FeII], and [FeIII], are exploited to constrain the star formation and
excitation mechanisms in the galaxy's nucleus. The near-infrared properties can
largely be accounted for by ionized gas in the NLR, dense molecular gas, and
hot dust concentrated near the active nucleus of NGC1275. The strong and
compact H2 emission is mostly from circumnuclear gas excited by the AGN and not
from the cooling flow. The extended emission of latetype stars is diluted in
the center by the thermal emission of hot dust.
