Pazhassiraja Museum

Pazhassiraja Museum , Kerala

Location:      5 kilometers from Kozhikode
Main Attractions:     Ancient murals, collections of Pazhassiraja Kerala Varma

Pazhassiraja Museum Calicut, KeralaThe Pazhassiraja museum and the art gallery of Kozhikode have been named after the famous Pazhassiraja Kerala Varma of the Kottayam royal family. Pazhassiraja led the famous ‘Pazhassi Revolt’ against the East India Company during the 1700′s. Pazhassiraja was nicknamed the Lion of Kerala and is also accredited with starting guerilla war in the hills of Wayanad to give a blow to the unbearable British rule. He was shot dead in an encounter on 30th November 1805. The Calicut Pazhassiraja museum was built as a tribute to this great freedom fighter. The Pazhassiraja museum has preserved the memories of this freedom fighter in the best possible way.

The State Archeology Department manages the museum and has preserved the various artifacts beautifully. The items that are exhibited include ancient coins, mural paintings, antique statues, umbrella stones and other artifacts. The art gallery has a good collection of oil paintings of the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma. Raja Ravi Varma was known as the “prince among painters and painter among princes”. The art gallery and the museum both are an interesting treat for historians and connoisseurs of art.

How to Reach

Air
The nearest airport is the Karipur Airport, which is located at a distance of around 23 kilometers from the museum.

Rail
The Kozhikode railway station is around 3 kilometers from the museum.

Roads
Kozhikode is well connected by a wide network of roads and the museum is easily accessible from anywhere in the city.

Napier Museum

Napier Museum and Art Gallery , Kerala

The Napier museum and art gallery are situated in the Napier Museum compound at the center of the city. The Napier Museum is a 19th century structure, built in the Indo-Saracenic style. The Napier museum houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, ancient ornaments, bronze idols, ivory carvings and a chariot. The Napier Museum complex reveals and showcases the rich cultural heritage of Kerala. The museum is a magnificent piece of architecture and is named after the former Governor General of Madras, Sir John Napier.

The Napier Museum is also called by the name of the Government Art Museum. It is interesting to note that the Museum building sports a rare combination of the Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles. The Sree Chitra Art Gallery inside the Napier museum features a rare collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, Roerich and some fascinating works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of painting. Another attraction at the museum is the oriental collection comprising of paintings from Japan, China, Bali and Tibet. This collection offers a visual treat and acknowledges the art and culture of these countries.

Location:

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Timings:

The museums are open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. On Wednesdays, the museum opens only at 1 p.m.

Nearest railway station :
Thiruvananthapuram central, about 2 km.

Nearest airport :
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 6 km from the city.

Tea Museum

Tea Museum Munnar , Kerala

Munnar is one of the most beautiful places in Kerala. Munnar is also known for its tea plantations. The tea museum at Munnar showcases and highlights some of the fine and fascinating aspects on the evolution and growth of tea plantations in this part of Kerala. Tata Tea has opened the tea museum at Munnar. The tea museum houses photographs, curious and machineries. Each of them depicts a turning point in the flourishing tea industry in the region. The museum, set up at the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea in Munnar, is truly a tribute to the hard work and rigors of the pioneers and leaders in this field.

The museum is an effort to salute the visionaries who showed great acumen and determination to transform Munnar into a major tea plantation center of Kerala. The tea Museum meticulously sketches the growth of Munnar tea estates, veritably conveyed through some of the displays like the elementary tea roller to the modern fully automated tea factory. Various stages of tea processing can be learnt here. One can also learn a thing or two about the production of black tea.

Some of the unique items on display at the museum are the original tea roller, dating back to 1905, the ‘Pelton Wheel’ used in the power generation plant in the 1920s; a rail engine wheel of the Kundale Valley Light Railway that shuttled men and material between Munnar and Top. A section of the tea museum also houses classic bungalow furniture, wooden bathtub, typewriters, iron oven, magneto phone, manual calculators etc of the yester years. Another attraction at the museum is the demonstration room for tea tasting.

The museum authorities are also contemplating on the idea of allowing tourists to pluck tea leaves themselves and have them processed in their presence.

The Tea Museum by Tata Tea would soon turn out yet another reason for travelers to visit the enchanting plantation hills of Munnar, which have already become one of the prime tourist destinations in Kerala.

Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. (open 7 days a week)

Entry Fee:
Adults: Rs.50
Children below 12 years: Rs.10

Maritime Museum

Maritime Museum Kochi

India reckoned as the top ten naval power in the world owes its credit to dedication and selfless services rendered by the brave men of India’s formidable naval force.

It is of significance for civilians to understand the value of existence of such a force, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding territorial waters of India.

The Maritime Museum, located at INS Dronacharya in Kochi throws light on the genesis, history, evolution and landmarks of the Indian Navy.

Step into the Maritime Museum to have a feel of the great maritime heritage of Indian Navy, which dates back to Indus Valley civilizations; Kerala’s trade links with Arabs, its famous maritime hero Kunjali Marakkar; Influence of India’s maritime power in South East Asia; Colonization of Indian sub-continent by European powers.

At the museum, the visitors are enlightened on the evolution of the navy since 1612, when the Indian Marine was established in Surat.

Another section of the museum presents interesting aspects of shipbuilding activities in India. It unravels India’s prowess in shipbuilding, which took its culture to the shores of Java, Sumatra and Bali between 3rd century BC and 12th century AD.

The museum also has a section, which highlights Indian Navy’s share of glory, when it took on its aggressors and eventually emerged victorious in the end.

These include details of Junaghad operation, the Goa liberation, Indo-Pak conflicts of 1965 and 1971, Operation Cactus, Operation Pawan and the strategic maneuvers during Kargil.

Visiting time: 9:30 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm

Getting there: The Museum is located on the beach road about 1 km south of St.Francis Church in Fort Kochi.

Nearest railway station: Ernakulam, about 15km.

Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam City.

Madhavan Nayar Foundation

Madhavan Nayar Foundation

The Madhavan Nayar Foundation is located at Edapally in Ernakulam district in Kerala. It showcases the historic events and arts of Kerala. Located at a little distance from the crowded environment of Ernakulam is a silent building, which houses the museum. The visitor is greeted by a statue of Parasurama, the sage who is said to have created Kerala. The Madhavan Nayar foundation showcases the history of Kerala and pays homage to its creators. The Madhavan Nayar Foundation also called the Museum of Kerala History displays historic episodes from the Neolithic to the contemporary era through life size figures.

Light and sound shows are regularly organized at the foundation. The light and sound show is accompanied by commentary in English and Malayalam. Another attraction at the foundation is the gallery, showcasing paintings and sculptures and displays over 200 original works by contemporary Indian artists. The Center for Visual Arts at the museum has a collection of the genuine reproduction of select world masters and larger than life mural reproductions of Indian art.

Museum of Kerala History

Museum of Kerala History

The Museum of Kerala History is at Edapally on the way to Aluva. It is the best place to have a quick glimpse of Kerala’s history. A statue of Parasurama, the sage who is said to have created Kerala, greets the visitors.

Life size figures depict important landmarks of civilization from the Neolithic age to the modern era. There is an excellent narration of Kerala history in the past 2000 years.

It presents one-hour light and sound spectacles of life-size sculptures in concrete, of the makers of Kerala history, together with the background music and commentary with glimpses of the vastness and diversity of Kerala’s history over the centuries.
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As the name itself suggests, the museum of Kerala history at Kochi showcases the great cultural legacy of Kerala, God’s own country, and India. The Museum of Kerala History at Edapally also houses the MNF Gallery of Paintings and Sculptures and the Center for Visual Arts. The inconspicuous MNF Gallery showcases some immortal creations, which gives a glimpse of the magnificent past and rich cultural heritage of Kerala. The gallery displays the works of some of the greatest exponents of Indian art. Some of the great masters whose works are on display include Raja Ravi Varma, Mammiyoor Krishhan Kutty Nair, Jamini Roy, Manu Parekh and M F Hussain. The Museum of Kerala history remains open from 10 am to 5 pm on all days except Mondays and public holidays.

The commentary is in English as well as in Malayalam. 87 figures who shaped the history and culture of Kerala in the last two thousand years have been represented here in Light and Sound Tableaus.

The story, from the Early peoples of Kerala to the modern age is interspersed with Social, Cultural and literary facets is a fascinating one.

General Information

Timings

The light and sound shows take place in the following timings:
10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30 12:00, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 15:30, 16:00.
The museum remains closed on Mondays and Public holidays.

Location
10 Kms From Ernakulam, Kerala

Main Attraction
Light And Sound Show

Admission Fees
Rs. 5/- per adult. Rs.2/- per child

Indo-Portuguese Museum

Indo-Portuguese Museum Kochi, Kerala

The Indo-Portuguese Museum situated in Fort Kochi throws light on the strong Portuguese influence in both the art and the architecture of the region.

The museum today is an important center to understand the Indo-Portuguese Christian Art heritage, which is still surviving. The museum is the outcome of the untiring efforts of the late Dr. Joseph Kureethra, Bishop of Kochi. Driven by sheer commitment to protect the rich heritage of his Diocese, the bishop established the Indo-Portuguese Museum to preserve some of the invaluable collections for posterity.

The museum is divided into five main sections, according to the nature of items displayed in each section. They are – Altar, Treasure, Procession, Civil Life and Cathedral.

The museum currently houses some outstanding collections and is , well known for its artistic and architectural marvels, which bear the mark of strong Portuguese influence. Some of these include a piece of the altar made in teak wood (16th century) from the Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen, a chasuble (19th century) from Bishop’s House, Fort Kochi, Processional cross, which is a combination of silver and wood (17th century) from Santa Cruz Cathedral, Fort Kochi, Indo-Portuguese Monstrance (18-19th century), from The Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen. Among the displayed items, the Coat of Arms of the Franciscans needs special mention

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has also contributed to the rich collection at the Indo-Portuguese Museum and has to its credit sculptures, precious metal objects and vestments, among others from the Cathedral of Santa Cruz and other churches of the Kochi diocese.

The Indo-Portuguese Museum in Kochi is indeed one of those symbols in the annals of Kochi, bearing the rich heritage of Indo-Portuguese culture and artistic influence.

Location:      Fort Kochi
Main Attractions:     Artistic and architectural marvel of the Portuguese era

The Indo-Portuguese Museum of Kochi highlights the conspicuous Portuguese impact in both art and the architecture. The Indo Portuguese museum in Cochin is a recognized center to know the still-surviving Indo-Portuguese Christian Art heritage. The museum is the product of the determined and persistent efforts of late Dr. Joseph Kureethra, Bishop of Kochi. In order to protect his archdiocese, the Bishop established this museum to preserve the priceless collections for future generations.

There are basically five main sections in the museum and they are classified according to the character of the objects displayed there. These five sections are named as Altar, Procession, Civil Life, Treasure and Cathedral. The museum at present houses some marvelous items that are aesthetically appealing and show the strong influence of the Portuguese style of art. The beautiful sculptures, precious metal artifacts and a piece of an old altar made of teak wood are some of the items that are worth a mention. Also, a sculpture of the Franciscans Coat of Arms is worth mentioning and the museum is definitely worth the visit. One can very proudly say that the Indo-Portuguese Museum is undeniably one of the representatives of the rich legacy of Indo-Portuguese culture and artistic influence.

How to Reach

Air:

The nearest airports are at Trivandrum and Cochin and Fort Kochi is easily accessible from these two airports.

Rail:

The three railway junctions in Cochin are Ernakulam town, Cochin harbor and Ernakulam junction. Hire local transport from either of these places to reach Fort Kochi.

Road:

Cochin is well connected by a wide network of roads and this museum can be easily reached from anywhere in Cochin.

Hill Palace Museum

Hill Palace Museum in Kerala

The Hill Palace museum is located in Ernakulam, Kerala. This museum has a distinction of being the first heritage museum of Kerala. The Hill Palace museum houses the Royal collections of the erstwhile Maharaja of Kochi. It is the official residence of the Kochi royal family and the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. The Hill Palace complex comprises of 49 buildings, built in the traditional architectural style of Kerala, spread over 50 acres of beautifully landscaped land. Numerous species of flora including rare medicinal plants are grown here. Some prominent displays in the full-fledged Ethno-archaeological museum are oil paintings, murals, inscriptions, coins, stone sculptures and manuscripts, belongings of the Kochi royal family and royal furniture.

Other important exhibits at the Hill Palace museum are over 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from China and Japan, Kudakkallu (tomb stone), menhirs, granite, Thoppikkallu (hood stone), laterite memorials, wooden temple models and rock cut weapons. The Hill palace museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art, which displays many items from the contemporary period.

Located at a distance of 10 kilometers from Kochi, Hill Palace, the official residence of the Kochi Royal Family was built in 1865. Consisting of 49 buildings, the palace is built in the Traditional Architectural Style of Kerala and is surrounded by 52 acres of terraced land.

Display Sections:

Exhibited inside the thirteen galleries are oil paintings, 19th century Paintings, Murals, sculptures in stone and plaster of Paris, manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, belongings of the Kochi Royal Family, Paliathachan’s gallery and royal furniture including the ‘Simhasana’ (the throne or the king’s chair).

There are on display 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from China and Japan, Kudalkall, tomb stone ‘thoppikkallu’, hood stone ‘menhirs’ in granite and Literate memorials, rock cut caves belonging to the early iron, age wooden temple models.

There is an amazing array of plaster cast models of objects from Mohanjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley civilization of North India. The upper story houses a gallery of contemporary art.

The huge area over which the museum is spread provides the facilities for other recreation activities as well. The huge expanse of land that surrounds the royal palace has a Deer Park and has facilities for horse riding also

Timings:

The museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Mondays.

Location:

10 kms From Kochi, Kerala

Main Attraction:

Kerala’s First Heritage Museum

Archaeological Museum

Archaeological Museum  Thrissur, Kerala

Archaeological Museum, Kerala TourLocation :

Near the Thrissur Zoo, 2 km from Thrissur town, central Kerala.

Visiting hours :

10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Mondays and national holidays.

The Archaeological Museum was until recently accommodated in the Thrissur Town Hall building. Now it has been shifted to the Kollengode Palace, an architectural delight.

The majestic building houses a gallery of murals from all over Kerala and preserves a rare treasure of Veerakallu, temple models, olagrandhangal (manuscripts on dry palm leaves), megaliths etc.

Veerakallu or herostones are stone engravings and sculptures of figures and weapons belonging to the heroes of days gone by. Most of these were recovered from the forests of Wayanad and Thrissur.

The megalith collection includes earthen pots, urns etc. The temple models cast in plaster of Paris are excellent representations of the ancient temples in the State.

Getting there:

Nearest railway station : Thrissur

Kerala, with its scenic beauty and peaceful atmosphere attracts the tourist most. It is no less popular than the other tourist places of India. Here, in this abundance of natural beauty, the Archaeological Museum at Thrissur is another place of interest for historians, scholars and general visitors.

Established in the year of Independence, 1947, the museum is a wonder for its archaeological storage. It is exactly located in the Town Hall Road. It is generally famous all over India for its collection of murals and relics from the whole of Kerala. There are also life-size statues of the renowned personalities of the past. In addition to all these there are also pottery wares, beads, iron implements, stone implements, wooden models of temples, Indus Valley specimens, stucco head of Gandhara art, plastic models of sculptures through the ages, churches, Ajanta and Bagh caves, few bronzes and a few collection of coins.

The museum remains open from 8am to 5pm except on Mondays, Independence Day, Republic Day, Thiru Onam and Gandhi Jayanti.

Ambalavayal Heritage Museum

Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, Kerala

The Ambalavayal Heritage Museum is located in Wayanad district of Kerala. The Ambalavayal Heritage Museum is an archaeological museum and houses largest collections of the remnants and artifacts of the 2nd century A.D. The exhibits and artifacts present in the museum give a clear indication of an advanced civilization that existed in this region. The articles on display in the museum are of great interest to historians, archaeologists and common people alike. The Ambalavayal heritage museum displays a variety of artifacts and remnants ranging from ancient hunting equipments like bows and arrows, clay sculptures, stone weapons and other curios.

Location: 12 km south of Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad district.

Visiting Hours : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Attractions : Rare 2nd century artefacts.

The Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, the archaeological museum in Wayanad,- has one of Kerala’s largest collections of the remnants of an era dating back to the 2nd century A.D.

The exhibits here are evidences of an advanced civilisation that existed in the mountains of Wayanad. The articles on display are a fascination for the historian, the archaeologist and the ordinary man alike.

At the museum you can see articles as varied as clay sculptures, ancient hunting equipments like bows and arrows, stone weapons and other curios.

Getting there : Sulthan Bathery, the nearest town, is about 98 km from Kozhikode city.There are frequent bus services between Sulthan Bathery and Kozhikode.

Nearest railway station : Kozhikode, 97 km from Sulthan Bathery.

Nearest airport : Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode about 120 km from Sulthan Bathery.