Napier Museum - An architectural splendor combining
Kerala Architecture with
Chinese,
Italian and
Mughal styles
The 19th century English architect, Chisholm, designed the building, which houses a rare collection of archaeological and historical artifacts
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.The 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.
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.
An exceptional piece of architecture, the Museum is named after the former Madras Governor
General John Napier
Photo credits : Rajith