{{Short description|Art museum, archaeology museum in Kerala, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}} {{primary sources|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox museum/wikidata | name = Napier Museum<br/>നേപ്പ്യർ കാഴ്ച ബെംഗ്ളാവ് | image = Napier_Museum_TVM.jpg | imagesize = 250px | map_type = | map_caption = | latitude = | longitude = | established = {{start date|1855}} | location = Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India | type = Art museum, Archaeology museum | visitors = | director = | curator = | publictransit = | website = {{URL|https://www.napiermuseum.org/}} }} The '''Napier Museum''' is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram, India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Napier Museum|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/napier-museum-thiruvananthapuram/327|access-date=2021-07-09|publisher=Department of Tourism (Kerala)|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205032611/https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/napier-museum-thiruvananthapuram/327|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Museum is grounds to the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, one of the oldest zoological gardens in India. The zoo was established in 1857 over {{convert|55|acre|m2}} of land.<ref>{{Cite web|title=തിരുവനന്തപുരത്ത് കുട്ടികളുമായി യാത്ര പോകാം; തീർച്ചയായും കണ്ടിരിക്കേണ്ട കാഴ്ചകളിതാ|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/travel/travel-kerala/2019/09/19/best-places-to-visit-in-trivandrum.html|access-date=2021-01-31|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml|archive-date=10 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810164711/https://www.manoramaonline.com/travel/travel-kerala/2019/09/19/best-places-to-visit-in-trivandrum.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It also contains the Sree Chitra Art Gallery, a separate art gallery established in 1935.
The set of museums, along with the zoo, are managed by the Department of Museums and Zoos, a branch of the Department of Cultural Affairs of Kerala.
==History== A building was constructed in 1857 during the reign of Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatarchaeology.com/museum_details.php?museum=Napier_Museum|title=Napier Museum in India , The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. The ...|website=www.greatarchaeology.com|access-date=22 October 2013|archive-date=23 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060851/http://www.greatarchaeology.com/museum_details.php?museum=Napier_Museum|url-status=live}}</ref> and later demolished in 1874 to lay foundation for a new building, during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal.<ref>{{Cite news|last=M|first=Athira|date=2018-04-20|title=Room for radio at the Napier Museum|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/room-for-radio-at-napier-museum/article23616497.ece|access-date=2021-01-31|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204010550/https://www.thehindu.com/society/room-for-radio-at-napier-museum/article23616497.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Governor of Madras in 1872 appointed Robert Chisholm, a consulting architect of the Madras Government to design a new museum. In 1880, construction finished and the museum opened to the public, bearing the namesake of its governor, Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier.
The Indo-Saracenic structure lacks an air conditioning system. Although it has never been an issue due to suitable natural ventilation, an annex built in 2016 was noted for various problems such as mold, insects and corrosion owing to the lack of windows and openings. Since 2017, the annexed museum depot has been under review and is being rebuilt. Furthermore, the Napier Museum itself is being renovated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iiconservation.org/content/collection-care-napier-museum-trivandrum-india|publisher=International Institute for Conservation|date=2018-10-31|author1=Johanna Runkel|author2=Gabriela Krist|author3=Tanushree Gupta|title=Collection Care in Napier Museum in Trivandrum, India|access-date=10 July 2021|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710223906/https://www.iiconservation.org/content/collection-care-napier-museum-trivandrum-india|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Design== Some of the building features include a gothic roof and minarets. The Napier Museum, a landmark of the city, is noted for its unique ornamentation and architectural style, which is influenced by Indian, Chinese, Kerala and Mughal Schools of Architecture.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/napier-museum-thiruvananthapuram/327|access-date=2021-01-31|website=Kerala Tourism|language=en|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205032611/https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/napier-museum-thiruvananthapuram/327|url-status=live}}</ref>
The museum has a bandstand with concealed speakers and special acoustics. In the old days,{{when|date=July 2021}} the band of the Travancore Nair Brigade would play there every Friday. Later,{{when|date=July 2021}} the police band would play on Saturdays.<ref>{{Cite news|last=M|first=Athira|date=2018-04-20|title=Room for radio at the Napier Museum|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/room-for-radio-at-napier-museum/article23616497.ece|access-date=2021-01-31|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204010550/https://www.thehindu.com/society/room-for-radio-at-napier-museum/article23616497.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
The museum owns a garden which has many varieties of flowers and trees. It also shelters the oldest living rubber tree in Kerala. It was brought there in 1876 from Ceylon and planted in the museum grounds by Visakham Thirunal.<ref>{{Cite news|last=V.n|first=Aswin|date=2018-03-08|title=The capital's grand old rubber tree|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/in-thiruvananthapurams-napier-museum-compound-stands-a-little-known-rubbery-secret/article22979740.ece|access-date=2020-12-02|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114152527/https://www.thehindu.com/society/in-thiruvananthapurams-napier-museum-compound-stands-a-little-known-rubbery-secret/article22979740.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Spotting Kerala's oldest rubber tree is a walk in the park|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/getting-about-kerala/thiruvananthapuram/2018/02/20/spotting-keralas-oldest-rubber-tree-walk-in-park.html|access-date=2020-12-02|website=OnManorama|language=en|archive-date=21 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421081422/https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/kerala/2018/02/20/spotting-keralas-oldest-rubber-tree-walk-in-park.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Collection== The museum houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. The Indian epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana are the inspiration for the museum's collection of Javanese shadow play leather puppets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/napier-museum-thiruvananthapuram/327|access-date=2021-01-31|website=Kerala Tourism|language=en|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205032611/https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/napier-museum-thiruvananthapuram/327|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Timings == Visiting Hours: Open 10.00 – 16.45 hrs. Closed on Mondays, Wednesday forenoons, 26 January, 15 August, Thiruvonam and Mahanavami.<ref>{{cite web|title=Napier Museum, Sree Chithra Art Gallery, Museum Compound, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=3215839|access-date=2013-10-20|publisher=Keralatourism.org|archive-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022203826/http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=3215839|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Napier Museum}} {{Tourism in Kerala}} {{authority control}}
Category:Art museums and galleries in India Category:Museums in Thiruvananthapuram Category:Archaeological museums in India Category:Natural history museums in India Category:Museums established in 1855 Category:1855 establishments in British India Category:British colonial architecture in India Category:Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture Category:State museums in India Category:Shadow play