Sunday, March 14, 2010

Kerala Destination - Napier Museum & Art Gallery

Napier Museum & Art Gallery

Location: Both Museum and Art Gallery are situated in the Napier Museum compound, right in the heart of the city, near the zoological park.

Visiting Hours: Open 1000 - 1645 hrs. Closed on Mondays, Wednesday forenoons, Jaunary 26th, August 15th, Thiruvonam and Mahanavami.

Built in the 19th century, this Indo-Saracenic structure boasts a natural air-conditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artefacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. The use of plastic is banned in the museum premises.

A visit to the Napier Museum complex reveals a glimpse of Kerala's rich cultural heritage. An exceptional piece of architecture, the Museum is named after the former Madras Governor General, John Napier. The Napier Museum is also called the Government Art Museum. The Museum building is a combination of the Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles. The Sree Chitra Art Gallery here features a rare collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma and Roerich among others, and fascinating works from the Mughal, Rajput and Tanjore schools of art. An oriental collection consisting of paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali offers a visual treat and are a tribute to the art and culture of these countries.

Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 2 km.
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 6 km from the city.

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