Interesting facts

1. The Napier Museum was established in 1855 but the current iconic building was completed in 1880. 2. The museum is named after Lord Napier, the former Governor of Madras. 3. The building was designed by Robert Chisholm, a pioneer of the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. 4. The architecture seamlessly blends Indian, Islamic, Gothic, and traditional Kerala design elements. 5. The Napier Museum building boasts a natural air-conditioning system, utilizing a unique double-wall and ventilation design. 6. The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, located in the same compound, is one of the oldest in India, established in 1857. 7. The zoo was originally conceptualized as a menagerie by the Maharaja of Travancore, Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. 8. The sprawling museum and zoo compound spans approximately 55 acres of prime city real estate. 9. The Sree Chitra Art Gallery, located on the grounds, was opened to the public in 1935 by Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. 10. The art gallery houses a world-renowned collection of original paintings by the legendary Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma. 11. The gallery also features rare works by Nicholas Roerich and Svetoslav Roerich. 12. The adjacent Natural History Museum features an impressive skeleton of a blue whale. 13. The KCS Paniker Gallery within the complex is dedicated to the pioneer of the modern art movement in South India. 14. The compound's botanical garden features one of the oldest rubber trees in Kerala, planted from seeds brought from Ceylon. 15. A beautifully restored historic Bandstand sits in the garden, which once hosted Friday evening concerts for the Travancore Royal Family. 16. The Museum Junction outside the gates is one of the most vital traffic and commercial arteries in the city. 17. Just across the road lies the Kanakakkunnu Palace, once the royal banquet hall, now a hub for cultural festivals. 18. The compound is a favorite spot for morning walkers, who utilize the paved paths before the museums open to tourists. 19. Woodwork in the Napier museum features intricate carvings of scenes from the great Indian epics, the Mahabharata and Ramayana. 20. During the Onam festival, the entire Museum and Kanakakkunnu compound is illuminated with spectacular light displays, drawing millions of visitors.