Napier Museum

The Napier Museum (also known as Government Art Museum) is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram, India.[1] The architecture of the museum is a mix of Indian, Chinese, Kerala, and Mughal styles.[2] The Museum grounds also hold the famous Trivandrum Zoo, which is one of the oldest zoological gardens in India. The zoo was established in 1857 and is spread over 55 acres (220,000 m2) of land.[3]

Napier Museum നേപ്പ്യർ കാഴ്ച ബെംഗ്ളാവ്
Established1855
LocationThiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
TypeArt museum, Archaeology museum

History

The museum was first established in 1855,[4] but demolished in 1874 to lay foundation for a new building, during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal.[5] The new building was named after Lord Napier, the Governor of Madras from 1866-1872. The museum was designed by Robert Chisholm, the consulting Architect of the Madras Government, and the construction was completed in 1880. Napier Museum is a landmark in the city with its unique ornamentation and architectural style with gothic roof and minarets. The Indo-Saracenic structure also boasts a natural air conditioning system.

Kerala's rich cultural heritage is in full display here. The museum was named after the former Madras Governor General, John Napier. Also known as Government Art Museum, the architectural style of museum is a mix of Indian, Chinese, Kerala and Mughal Schools of Architecture

Features

The museum houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. It also contains the Sree Chitra Art Gallery, which contains works from Raja Ravi Varma and Nicholas Roerich, as well as examples of Mughal and Tanjore art. Indian epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana are depicted in the museum, using Japanese shadow-play leather.[6]

In the old days, the band of the Travancore Nair Brigade used to perform at the Band Stand in the museum complex on all Fridays. Later, the police band used to perform here on all Saturdays. The Band Stand has concealed speakers and special acoustics.[7]

The museum compound has a rich and diverse variety of trees. The oldest living rubber tree in Kerala that was brought from Ceylon and planted in 1876 by Visakham Thirunal is present at the compound of museum.[8][9]

Timings

Visiting Hours: Open 10.00 - 16.45 hrs. Closed on Mondays, Wednesday forenoons, 26 January, 15 August, Thiruvonam and Mahanavami.[10]

References
  1. "Kovalam". Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  2. "Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  3. "തിരുവനന്തപുരത്ത് കുട്ടികളുമായി യാത്ര പോകാം; തീർച്ചയായും കണ്ടിരിക്കേണ്ട കാഴ്ചകളിതാ". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. "Napier Museum in India , The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. The ..." www.greatarchaeology.com.
  5. M, Athira (20 April 2018). "Room for radio at the Napier Museum". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. "Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. M, Athira (20 April 2018). "Room for radio at the Napier Museum". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  8. V.n, Aswin (8 March 2018). "The capital's grand old rubber tree". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  9. "Spotting Kerala's oldest rubber tree is a walk in the park". OnManorama. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  10. "Napier Museum, Sree Chithra Art Gallery, Museum Compound, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India". Keralatourism.org. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
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