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An
architectural splendour, the Napier Museum combines traditional Kerala
style with the Chinese and Mughal influences much evident in its
architecture.
The 19th century English architect, Chisholm, designed the building,
which houses a rare collection of archaoelogical and historical artifacts.
The museum housed in a whimsical building dating from 1880, displays an
assortment of bronzes, historical and contemporary ornaments, temples
carts, ivory carvings and life size figures of
Kathakali dancers in full
costumes.
The interiors of the Indo-Sarcenic structure are every bit as intriguing
as the exterior with pink and blue stripes alternating with stripes of
yellow and cherry red, scalloped arches of a banana yellow, interpreting
elaborately carved balconies, the whole linked together with red and white
lattice work and mock friezes. The building boasts of a natural air
conditioning system.
Nearby, there is the Natural History Museum, first opened in 1857, that
has a collection of ethnographic pieces, animal skeletons and stuffed
animals and birds.
Timings
The museums are open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4.45 p.m.
On Wednesdays, the museum opens only at 1 p.m.