Napier Museum

A museum at Travancore was established in 1857 by the erstwhile Maharaja, Uthram Thirunal. It was one of the oldest in India. As the old building was not enough to display many more objects collected, it was pulled down and the present, Napier museum, was built and opened to the public in 1880 by Ayilyam Thirunal Maharaja. This museum is named after Lord Napier, the former Governor General of Madras, is situated in the Museum compound right in the heart of the Thiruvananthapuram city.

This Architectural masterpiece was designed by Mr. Robert Chisholm, the consulting Architect of the Madras Government. This 142 year old structure is a landmark in the city with its unique ornamentation and architectural style with Gothic roof and minarets.

The museum has a fairly good collection of exhibition that counts to around 550 numbers. It offers an array of display of artistic, cultural and antique objects comprising of sculptures in bronze and stone, carving of wood and ivory, lamps, textiles, Kathakali models, handicraft items, Koftgari works, traditional musical instruments, a treasure of numismatic collections representing Chera, Chola, Pandya dynasties of southern India etc. The Bronze display includes fascinating images of Siva, Vishnu, Parvathi and Lakshmi in 'Silpa sastras. The metal images illustrate the features of South Indian sculpture style of 8th to 18th century. The Vishnu image of 8th century collected from Ambalapuzha temple in Central Travancore which has Pallava style is the oldest metal image in the state.

The sword of Velu Thampi Dhalawa, one of the first martyr of Indian freedom struggle is presently displayed in this museum.

Image making appears to have been practiced in Kerala from very early times. The art is supposed to have drawn inspiration from the existing religious faith of the people. The conception of Siva, Vishnu, Parvathy and Lekshmi in several forms has been given shape in beautiful image of bronze and occasionally copper whose iconographical details are modelled on rules laid in the 'Silpashastras'. The art of making metal idols in Keral dates back to 9th Centuary AD. The 'Matsyapurana' (ascribes to 450 AD) contains vivid descriptions on the method of casting bronze.