Kerala Folklore Museum

A heritage museum of traditional local architecture as well as crafts, folk art, and antiques, the Kerala Folklore Museum is a repository of antique art and craft from different parts of Kerala and the country as well, showcased to impart information about the state’s rich and ancient culture and tradition.

About the Museum

Located in the city of Thevara in Kochi, Kerala, the Kerala Folklore Museum is one of the must-visit sights to explore that is constructed in Malabar, Cochin, and Travancore style of architecture. Inaugurated in the year 2009, the Folklore Museum has a huge collection of woodworks from Kerala and is an ideal specimen of the state’s ancient carpentry. An exquisite heritage place, the museum was constituted by George Thaliath and his wife Annie George and was completed over a span of 7 years.

The museum welcomes you with a huge Kalvilakku (stone lamp) and then two elephant statues on both sides of the entrance steps leading to the massive multi-story traditional building. The overwhelming edifice of this museum and theatre is built according to the epic Kerala-style temples and is made using materials that include wood, roofing tiles, and laterite stone. The door to the entrance is adorned with a splendid manichitratazhu – an ancient ornate door lock in Kerala. The first floor of the museum known as Kalithattu showcases costumes of distinct traditional dance forms such as Theyyam, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, and Ottanthullal. The second floor is named Lotus Petal which is beautified with mural paintings and a detailed wooden ceiling made of 60 frames.

The rich assortment of exhibits that fascinate the visitors include masks, puppets, ornaments, wood carvings, oil lamps, antique musical instruments, sculptures made of wood, bronze, copper, etc., that bring out the appealing look of the museum and leaves the visitors inquisitive. The museum also houses several antique figures that exhibit the history, culture, and tradition of not only the state but from different parts of the country. A visit to the Folklore Museum in Kochi, Kerala, will offer one an immense knowledge about God’s Own Country and everything related to its history and ancient art forms.