Bay Island Driftwood Museum, Kumarakom

Recently I went to this museum with my family and has a wonderful experience with getting the insights about the exhibits by the same person who had collected the same over many years and still preserving it with an excellent museum. Knowing further that this is one of its kind in the world makes it still special. Had a nice time spent hearing all the intricate stories behind every exhibit.

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The bay island driftwood museum is an art gallery situated in the tourist destination of kumarakom in Kottayam district of Kerala. It is an art gallery that mainly showcases driftwood art from the private collection of a lady Raji punnose, who collected them when she was staying in Anadaman.

For any one who doesn't know driftwood are pieces of wood both from bark and root, that has fallen into river and by action of the river it gets polished and the outer softer portion is removed, also some make their way to the sea, they could remain there for even years and during that process gets really polished and only the hard inner parts remain making it really durable, also at he same time these form natural shapes, some resembling objects alive or not. These are considered art pieces and it is what is displayed in this particular museum.

I had spotted the place couple of times while going through kumarakon to kottayam and one time wheni had time decided to stop by. It is a two storey house converted. You are personally greeted by the owner of the museum and she herself will give you a tour of the museum. The pieces have just an additional protective coating and most are preserved in the state she found them.

Ms Raji is an English language teacher and excellent conservationist and she would explain to you her thought on every piece and it is great having a conversation with her. She would explain the place from which she collected it its history and why she kept it. Some pieces have close resemblance to actual object or organisms but some other you have to really imagine to appreciate it. Most of the pieces resemble animal, lot of birds, there is apiece that looks like fling eagle, also cats and dogs, and some doesn't resemble anything but looks beautiful as it is.  Overall it is somewhat big collection and more importantly really good. There is also a description of most of the pieces but that wont be needed if ms Raji is present. Art enthusiast will have a great time talking with her.

The place is located very close to the Kumarakom bird sanctuary, on the side of the road that connects it to Kottayan town and also thaneermukkom in Alappuzha. So getting here wont be a problem, This is must visit for art lovers coming to near here and there is nothing wrong is setting the place as the destination of your travel. The entry fee for the museum is rs 50. Monday is a holiday. And is open till only 5pm.

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