Jul 27, 2015 10:47 AM
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(Updated Jul 30, 2015 01:41 PM)
The Napier Museum In July 2014 we were in Thiruvananthapuram for a week and I used to wander around while my husband was at a workshop or seminar. It was thus that I visited the little art and natural history museum there. Before entering you will find a number of people selling pineapple and other fruits. The entrance gate is very interesting.
History Dating back to about 1855, the old Museum building gave way, in 1874, to a new one named after Napier, a colonial “Governor of Madras”.
Designed by Robert Chisholm, consulting Architect of the Madras Government, Napier Museum is a quaint construction with ornamental gothic roof and minarets. Apparently, its “Indo-Saracenic structure” provides natural air conditioning system. The building is said to be a melange of Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles.
Inside there is a collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. There are also Japanese shadow play leather figures, which were used to depict the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Alas, there is not much to explain anything to the visitor and you would enjoy it better if accompanied by a knowledgeable person. The area is very small and you can thoroughly cover it in less than an hour.
Paintings At a little distance away there is the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, with works from Raja Ravi Varma and Nicholas Roerich, and some examples of Mughal and Tanjore art. They are mostly copies and not originals. There are a few rooms and it is a fairly nice and quiet spot to wander around looking at these paintings.
ZooThere is also a Zoological garden, supposedly one of the oldest in India. Established in 1857, it covers over 220, 000 square metres. I did not venture there.
Another Display Instead, I visited another section near the entrance/exit which, I think, housed artefacts from some King’s or dynasty’s times. It was quite fascinating.
The grounds were filled with visitors, mostly young boys and girls of college age. A huge number of kids were also there with parents and other guardians.
There was an eatery also which was crowded with people taking a break and enjoying snacks.
In the gardens there are statues of Jurassic creatures which makes it wonderful for children and me. There are many huge old looking trees which lend grandeur.
Before you exit, there is a little shop selling souvenirs.
It makes for a nice interlude during a visit to Thiruvananthapuram.
