Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala will have a string of heritage museums, showcasing the rich culture, history and tradition of the state, in all its districts.
The state Archaeology Department has identified locations in six districts to set up the museums which are to be developed as information hubs for heritage buffs.
Plans are also on to find out ideal sites in the rest of the districts for the project, a top official said.
The district heritage museums are planned as part of the state government's programme to preserve and showcase the legacy and tradition of the state, Archaeology Department Director G Premkumar said.
"We have already identified locations for museums in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad. We will also find out locations in other districts," Premkumar told PTI.
Sreepadam Palace, one of such structures in Thiruvanathapuram, will be converted into the museum in Thiruvananthapuram while the Bastion Bungalow will woo visitors as a museum in Kochi as part of the project.
The heritage museums in Thrissur, Palakkad, Wayanad and Pathanamthitta will be located respectively in Kollamkavu Palace, Mani Iyer Auditorium, Pazhassi Memorial and Konni Elephant Camp, he said.
"Works are progressing in all the six districts and we are planning to complete it within one year," he said.
Besides displaying some of the antiques and artefacts in the possession of the department, the museums will also display diverse cultural and ethnic articles throwing light into the heritage and legacy of each place, he said.
"At Sreepadam Palace, we are planning to exhibit antiques which can tell the eventful stories of erstwhile royal era of Travancore, rare coins, models of traditional houses like Nalukettu and so on," he said.
He said the department had approached the Travancore royal family to donate some old-fashioned furniture to be displayed at the museum.
Part of the Sreepadam Palace would be converted into a numismatic gallery where a rich collection of ancient coins, including those from Rome, China and Europe and also those belonging to south Indian dynasties like Chola, Chera and Pandya would be displayed, the official added.