Napier Museum

Napier Museum നേപ്പ്യർ കാഴ്ച ബെംഗ്ളാവ്

Established	1855
Location	Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Type	Art museum, Archaeology museum

The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India.

Location/Timings

The museum is about 6 km from the city. Visiting Hours: Open 10.00 - 16.45 hrs. Closed on Mondays, Wednesday forenoons, 26 January, 15 August, Thiruvonam and Mahanavami.

History

The museum was established in 1855. In 1874, the old Museum Building was demolished and foundation for the new building was laid. The new building was named after Lord Napier, the Governor of Madras from 1866-1872.

Design

The architectural masterpiece 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.

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.

The Museum grounds also hold the famous Trivandrum Zoo, which is one of the oldest zoological gardens in India. This Zoo was established in 1857 and is spread over 55 acres (220,000 m²) of land.

External links

• Napier Museum