Napier Museum



The Napier Museum, named after Lord Napier, the former Governor General of Madras, is a natural history and art museum. The museum was constructed and opened to the public in the year 1880, by the Ayilyam Thirunal Maharaja. This architectural masterpiece was designed by the consulting architect of the Madras Government, Robert Chisholm. A landmark by itself, the Napier Museum is known for its unique decoration and the architectural style with Gothic roof and minarets. Also the Indo-Saracenic structure takes pride in its natural air conditioning system.

Napier MuseumThe Napier Museum contains around 550 odd and unique collections of exhibits that include a rare collection of historic and archeological artifacts. An array of artifacts, that include sculptures of bronze and stone, carvings of wood and ivory, lamp, textiles, life sized Kathakali figurines, handicraft items, traditional musical instruments, valuable numismatic collections of the ages of Chera, Chola and Pandya dynasties of South India etc.

The Zoological Garden and the Sri Chitra Art Gallery are located inside the museum premises. The Zoological Garden, established in the year 1857, is one of the oldest in India and is spread over 55 acres of land. The Chitra Art Gallery houses the works of eminent artists like Raja Ravi Varma and Nicholas Roerich and also many paintings from Mughal and Tanjore.

Visiting Hours at the Museum:

10 am to 16:45 pm

Closed on Mondays and Wednesday forenoons.

And also on January 26, August 15, Thiruvonam and Mahanavami days.


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