Named after the former Governor-General of Madras, John Napier, this museum is one of the finest examples of architecture that blends Indian, Chinese, Kerala, and Mughal styles. From the gothic roof to minarets, all elements combine seamlessly to form this unique masterpiece. A landmark in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, it was designed by Robert Chisholm, and the construction of the building was completed in 1880. The Indo-Saracenic structure also boasts of a unique natural air conditioning system. The museum is home to a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, a temple chariot, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, and ivory carvings. It also has the Sree Chitra Art Gallery, which contains paintings by the modern master Raja Ravi Varma and the landscape painter, Nicholas Roerich apart from Mughal and Tanjore art. The Museum shares its grounds with one of the oldest zoological gardens in India, the Trivandrum Zoo which was established in 1857.

Mughal-Library