Napier Museum & Art Gallery

One of the earliest Museums in India established by the Maharaja of Travancore in 1855. Only a very few Museums like the Indian Museum Calcutta, Madras Government Museum are its contemporaries. In 1874, the old Museum Buildng was pulled down and the foundation for the new building named after Lord Napier, the Governor General of Madras presidency, was laid. The Architectural masterpiece was designed by Mr. Chisoln, the consulting Architect of the Madras Governmen, and the construction completed in 1880. This 123 year old structure is a landmark in the city with its unique ornamentation and architectural style with gothic roof and minerets.

It offers an array of display of artistic, cultural and antique objects comprising of sculptures in bronze and stone, carvings of wood and ivory, lamps, textiles, Kathakali models, handicraft items, Kuftgiri works, traditional musical instruments, a treasure of numismatic collections representing Chera, Chola, Pandya dynasties of Southern India etc.. The bronze display include fascinating images of Siva, Vishnu, Parvathi and Laskhmi 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 stone sculptures belong to 1st to 18th Century such as 'Gandhara sculptures', Agasthya, Vishnu etc. manifest Dravidian influence. Shiva with Sati is a unique and the rarest exhibit found in the Museum. Each and every exhibit has a wonderful and fascinating tale twined around it.

Ticket Rate

A single ticket is enough to gain entry to all Museums in the campus

• Children (upto 5)                                      :     Free
• Children between 6 and 14 years               :     Rs. 3
• Adult (one)                                              :     Rs. 5
• Group students 35 Nos. + teachers 2 Nos.:     Rs. 100
• Camera                                                  : [Camera is allowed only in Natural History Museum]

Museum Timing

• 10 : 00 A.M. to 4 : 45 P.M.
• Wednesday 1 : 00 P.M. to 4 : 45 P.M.
• Monday Holiday

Posted in: Museum