Visiting Napier Museum in Thiruvanthapuram

The Napier Museum Thiruvanthapuram is a complex comprising 4 parts:

1. The Napier Museum

Named after the former Governor of Chennai Lord Napier, the original structure was pulled down to make way for the present structure built in 1880 by Robert Chisholm. A gothic structure with elements of Mughal style in its minarets as well as traditional Kerala and Chinese architecture.

The works on display include a model of Gurvayur Temple, an unfinished temple chariot made of wood, ivory figures including an embedded pair of tusks, sculptures of Lord Padmanabha, bronze idols and ancient ornaments and musical instruments.
The walls behind the display cabinets, unfortunately like everything else in Kerala, have been painted over in white obscuring the details of the carvings.

The upper floor is out of bounds for visitors. It tends to get crowded and visitors often have to move single file slowly to really view everything. Due to the high vaulted ceiling, there’s natural air conditioning inside so that helps.

2. Sri Chitra Art Gallery

This is the best section of the complex. It houses Raja Ravi Varma portraits, including his self-portrait and the 3D painting of a woman. In another gallery are paintings of the famed Nicholas Roerich as well as of his nephew Svetoslav. There is a section given over to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma’s relatives as well.

There is a section of paintings from other countries from Asia like Tibet, China and Japan.

There is s an exquisite collection of miniature paintings as well as paintings of Mughal era and Rajasthani/Rajput paintings. Works from Bali and the famed Tanjore paintings are also on display.

At the counter at the entrance, postcards of Raja Ravi Varma paintings and a book on Raja Ravi Varma are available for sale. Students and teachers can show letterheads attesting them to be from educational institutions to avail of discounts.

3. The Zoo

4. There is an Art Gallery with the history of the kings of Travancore with paintings representative of each event written on the information boards. A royal chariot used during Dussehra by the royal king of Travancore is on display here.

Napier Musem Timings 

All the areas of the complex are open between 10 am – 4:45 pm

Wednesdays – the museum is closed for cleaning in the morning. Open only from 1 noon to 4:45 pm.

Napier Musem Tickets Prices

Tickets cost Rs.5/ per adult per museum.

The same ticket can be used to see up to 2 museums in the complex. So retain the tickets. 

Eating Out

There’s a self-service café right at the entrance which offers eats and coffee/tea at very reasonable rates.

There’s a cold drink stall outside the gates.

Parking facilities at Napier Museum:Parking is down a side lane down the road to the left.

Napier Museum, Thiruvanthapuram

Napier Museum, Thiruvanthapuram

Napier Museum, Thiruvanthapuram

There is ample place for sitting inside the complex with a garden and a few benches. It is an open area, so keep a wide brimmed hat handy.