The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the capital city of Kerala. The museum houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. It also contains the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, which contains works from Raja Ravi Varma and Nicholas Roerich, as well as examples of Mughal and Tanjore art.The Museum grounds also hold a Zoological garden, which is one of the oldest in India. This Zoo was established in 1857 and is spread over 55 acres (220,000 m2) of land.
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.
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, one of the oldest in the country, was established as an annexe to the Museum (Napier Museum)in 1857 by the erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore in order to attract more visitors.Spread over in 55 acres (220,000 m2) of land located in the heart of the temple city of Thiruvananthapuram, the Zoo offers a rare opportunity for the visitors to experience and enjoy an unparalleled picturesque and panoramic sylvan surroundings besides vivid animal collections. The Zoo has 75 different species of animals not only from India but from abroad also.
Climate
The city has a tropical climate and therefore does not experience distinct seasons. The mean maximum temperature 34 °C and the mean minimum temperature is 21 °C.December, january and February are the coldest months while March, April and May are the hottest.
Getting Here
Air
The quickest and comfortable way to get to Trivandrum is by air and airlines connect all the important cities in India.
Rail
The other means to get to Trivandrum is the train that connects all the important cities in the country. The trains offer services that range from luxurious to budget catering to the needs of the travelers.
Road
One can also get to Trivandrum by road that are developed and add to the usefulness of the transport system.Getting to Trivandrum from major cities in the southern part of India such as Chennai, Bangalore is easily accessible through the roadways.
Distance from various places
Delhi - 2814 KM
Mumbai- 1543 KM
Kolkatta- 2384 KM
Chennai- 708 KM
Kochi- 220 KM
Hotels in Thiruvananthapuram
- By KOL News , Written on November 12, 2009
