South Kerala Museums

Keralam - Museum of History and Heritage Kerala has a fascinating history that blends with the myths and legends of this land and possesses the alluring aroma of spices. The state has an assortment of exhibits that take you into the world of yesteryears. The exhibits include the archeological evidences of Neolithic age, burial accompaniments belonging to the Iron Age, sculptures of gods and goddesses in bronze, wood and stone, coins, murals and many more. These tokens of days gone by will familiarize one with the very many facets of this land like its rituals, cults, customs, tradition, trade, art, people and their lifestyle. Keralam, a museum of history and heritage in the capital city, is a joint venture of Kerala Tourism and the State Department of Archaeology. The museum, established in the Park View mansion near the zoo, uses modern display techniques such as touch-screen counters and multimedia systems to explain the artifacts arranged in different galleries and to screen narrative documentaries on the distinctive facets of Kerala's cultural history. Main attractions Burial accompaniments belonging to the Iron Age The Roman Dinari, which proves Kerala's maritime contacts with the Roman Empire The Granthas, written on palm leaves, in Malayalam and Sanskrit 17th Century murals from the Pundarikapuram Temple, Kottyam Stone celts, which prove the Neolithic inhabitation in Kerala 14th Century Brahma Sculpture 14th Century Yoga Narasimha Murthy 16th Century Nataraja Sculpture General Information For group reservations, please contact the reception Kindly avail the parking facility in front of the Napier Museum Concession tickets are available for disabled visitors Mobile phone use is not permitted inside the museum Eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted in the museum Video recording is restricted inside the museum Photography is allowed inside on extra charges Museum timings 10 am to 5.30 pm. Closed on Mondays and public holidays Museum - Ground Floor Plan Museum - First Floor Plan Address: Keralam Museum of History and Heritage Park View Thiruvananthapuram - 695033 Kerala, India Tel: +91 95670 19037 Website: www.museumkeralam.org

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum

Location: Adjacent to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple at East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. Visiting hours: (Open 0830 - 1300 hrs, 1500 - 1730 hrs. Closed on Mondays) The palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of Travancore, who was a great poet, musician, social reformer and statesman. This rare specimen of workmanship in the traditional Travancore style of architecture has exquisite wood carvings. The palace museum displays paintings and various priceless collections of the royal family and is located near the Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Entrance fee: Adults: Rs. 10, Children: Rs. 3, Foreigners: Rs. 20, Camera permit (outside): Rs. 15, Video: Rs. 500. Getting there: Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 1 km. Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 6 km. Krishnapuram Palace Location: At Kayamkulam, about 52 km from Alappuzha. Visiting hours: 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Lunch break: 1.00 p.m. to 2 p.m. Closed on Mondays and national holidays. The Krishnapuram Palace is a rare specimen of the Kerala style of architecture, complete with gabled roofs, narrow corridors and dormer windows. Residence of the rulers of Kayamkulam Kingdom, the age of the palace is unknown. Renovated some time in the 18th century, the palace is today a protected monument under the Archaeology Department. Recently it has been again renovated according to the scientific techniques prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings. Today the palace is an archaeological museum, and the most fascinating exhibit here is the 49 sq.m - Gajendra Moksham - the largest single band of mural painting so far discovered in Kerala. Literally, the salvation (Moksha) of the elephant king (Gajendra), the theme of the mural is mythological and depicts an elephant saluting Lord Vishnu in devotion while the other gods, goddesses and saints look on. It is said that Lord Vishnu was the family deity of the Kayamkulam rajas. This mural was placed at the entrance to the palace from the pond to enable the rajas to worship the deity after their bath. Other attractions here are the beautifully landscaped garden in the palace compound where you have a variety of flora typical of Kerala, and a newly erected Buddha mandapam, where a recently recovered statue of the Buddha is housed. Other collections at the museum include rare antique bronze sculptures and paintings. Getting there: Nearest railway station: Kayamkulam junction, about 5 km. Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 110 km. Police Museum (Open 0900 - 1800 hrs on all days) The only such establishment in the country, it traces the history and development of the police force. On display are police arms of the 18th and 19th centuries and various other exhibits. The star attraction of the museum is the Martyr's Gallery. Ph: 0474-2742400 Napier Museum & Art Gallery Location: Both Museum and Art Gallery are situated in the Napier Museum compound, right in the heart of the city, near the zoological park. Visiting Hours: Open 1000 - 1645 hrs. Closed on Mondays, Wednesday forenoons, Jaunary 26th, August 15th, Thiruvonam and Mahanavami. Built in the 19th century, this Indo-Saracenic structure boasts a natural air-conditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artefacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. The use of plastic is banned in the museum premises. A visit to the Napier Museum complex reveals a glimpse of Kerala's rich cultural heritage. An exceptional piece of architecture, the Museum is named after the former Madras Governor General, John Napier. The Napier Museum is also called the Government Art Museum. The Museum building is a combination of the Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles. The Sree Chitra Art Gallery here features a rare collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma and Roerich among others, and fascinating works from the Mughal, Rajput and Tanjore schools of art. An oriental collection consisting of paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali offers a visual treat and are a tribute to the art and culture of these countries. Getting there: Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 2 km. Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 6 km from the city. The Revi Karuna Karan Memorial Museum It is a rarity in India that collections of artistic and also of antique value become objects of appreciation and wonder for the public. In Alappuzha District of Kerala, also known as the 'Venice of the East', a remarkable personality dedicated a great deal of time, money and energy for the growth and development of the coir industry. Mr. Revi Karuna Karan till his passing away, couple of years back, played a pivotal role towards the betterment of the coir industry. While Mr. Revi carried on with his passionate and dedicated efforts for the development of the coir industry and for the welfare of those making a living out of it, he also found time to scan the world of fine arts. An avid collector of wonderful works of art; with and without utility, Mr. Revi eventually became the custodian of many fabulous works of art from around the world. A true connoisseur of art, after his passing away, Mr. Revi's family opened a museum in his name to house some of the selected items from his impressive collection. The Revi Karuna Karan Memorial Museum in Alappuzha town is a befitting memorial to a man who besides his first passion 'coir', also possessed a special interest in collecting classic works of art; old and rare; varied and inspiring. Located on the National Highway-47 passing through the town of Alappuzha, near the powerhouse bridge, the museum has literally enhanced the interests of visitors to the ancient trade town of Alappuzha, also famous for its backwaters and beaches. Among the displayed items in the museum, one would without doubt get amazed at the range of crystal wares, especially those from the world renowned Swarovsky. The world of ivory always has a tag of royalty and grandeur attached to it. The collection of works in ivory at the Revi Karuna Karan Memorial Museum is indeed an impressive one. The ivory and crystal collections at the museum are one of the largest of its kind. And for those, who admire paintings, the museum houses a good collection of them, especially that of renowned Tanjore paintings. Among the displayed items, a 200 sq. ft. mural is bound to catch the attention of one and all. This mural, depicting the social and cultural heritage of India was created by using only vegetable dyes, and took about 4160 man-hours for its completion. The museum also has a space dedicated for d'cor and architectural marvels called 'Kerala Room'. With about 3,800 pieces on display, the museum also has for its visitors an array of other artistic objects, especially those in porcelain, antique furniture etc. A 1946 model 'Buick Super' owned by Mr. Revi Karuna Karan's father is another major attraction. The museum with an exhibition area of 10,000 sq. ft. houses a variety of objects of high artistic excellence and heritage value, originating from different parts of the world, and is the first of its kind in Kerala. Address: Revi Karuna Karan Memorial Museum XIII/990 - A, NH 47,Near Power House Bridge, Alappuha -688012 Kerala-India Tel: +91- 477- 2242923 Website: www.rkkmuseum.com E-mail: info@rkkmuseum.com Visiting Hours: 09:00 a.m. to 02:00 p.m. on all days except Mondays & National Holidays Getting there: Nearest railway station: Alappuzha, about 3 km. Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 75 km.