The list of museums in Kerala encompasses museums defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries and exhibit spaces. Closed museums and museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.
Museum Name Location Type Established Jurisdiction Collections/Attractions Napier Museum Thiruvananthapuram Art and Natural history 1855 Department of Museums and Zoos, Government of Kerala The museum houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artefacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. It also contains the Sree Chitra Art Gallery, which contains works from Raja Ravi Varma and Nicholas Roerich, as well as examples of Mughal and Tanjore art. The Museum grounds also hold the Trivandrum Zoo, which is one of the oldest in India.Indo-Portuguese MuseumKochi1910Keralam - Museum of History and HeritageThiruvananthapuramHeritage center Kerala Tourism, Kerala State Department of ArchaeologyGovernment of Kerala The Keralam museum aims to document the continuous history and heritage of Kerala that spans over 3000 years as per available prehistorical and historical evidence. Exhibits include Iron Age artifacts, Roman Dinari, Sanskrit/Malayalam Granthas written on palm leaves, 17th Century murals, 14th Century Brahma Sculpture and Yoga Narasimha Murthy, 16th Century Nataraja Sculpture and more. This museum uses modern interactive technologies such as touch-screen counters and multimedia systems for explanation and displaying narrative documentaries. Beecraft Honey Museum, or "Honey Museum Wayanad" Old Vythiri, Vythiri, Wayanad Natural history Youtube video accessed 23 February 2023. in Malayalam, Facebook site accessed 23 February 2023.Kerala State Museum and Zoo ThrissurChembukkavu, ThrissurArt, Natural history, and zoo1885Department of Culture, Government of KeralaArchaeological Museum ThrissurChembukkavu, ThrissurHistorical site, Art and ArchaeologyBuilt 1938 Converted 1975Department of Archaeology, Government of KeralaShakthan Thampuran PalaceChembukkavu, ThrissurHistorical site, ArchaeologyBuilt 1795 Converted 2005Department of Archaeology, Government of KeralaVallathol MuseumCheruthuruthi, Thrissur Historic house museumUnknownKerala Folklore MuseumKochiArchitecture, ethnography and anthropology of KeralaBuilt 2009Private. Founded by George ThaliathTeak MuseumMalappuramTeak planatation and museum of teak woodBuilt 1995Kerala Forest Research InstituteKerala MuseumKochiContains galleries of dolls, modern art, and the history of Kerala. Built 1984Founded by Madhavan Nayar FoundationDistrict Heritage MuseumPalakkadDistrict museum featuring five galleries containing musical instruments, fashion, and history.Built 2021Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)PhotoMuse Museum of Photographyhttps://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/photomuse-a-museum-of-photography-in-kerala/article19698328.eceThrissurPublic museum dedicated to the art, history and science of Photography. Built 2014Public charitable trust Better Art Foundation, founded by Dr. Unni Krishnan Pulikkal S.PhotoMuse is India's first public museum dedicated to the art, history and science of Photography. Through the pursuit of photography and photographic history, PHOTOMUSE documents, interprets and promotes the natural and cultural inheritance of humanity. With photography-based outreach and educational programs, the museum emphasizes education, conservancy and India’s photographic legacy.Art Museum of Lovehttps://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/photomuse-kodakara-art-museum-of-love-unni-krishnan-pulikkal-reimagining-museums-2025/article69452470.eceThrissurA private museum featuring paintings, photographs, sculptures, textiles, books, and other collectibles centered around the theme of love.Built 2024Founded by Dr. Unni Krishnan Pulikkal S.The museum holds a broad collection of art and literary works that express the emotion of love in its various forms - in Indian traditional art, contemporary art, textiles and popular motifs, with a dedicated gallery of the history of erotic art.
See also
List of museums in India International Museum Day
References