OBJECTIVES
As part of the B.Ed.
curriculum the trainees were supposed to attend a field trip based on a
particular theme. The theme of the field trip for the English Optional trainees
was art. In other words, to develop the aesthetic sense, philosophy of art,
philosophy of beauty, theory of art, imagination and creativity to become an
effective teacher in English was the objective of this trip. For this purpose
along with the Optional teacher, other staffs and students we attended a field
trip Thiruvananthapuram and the places we visited were ‘Kuthiramalika’,
‘Chitralayalam’, ‘Napier Museum’ and ‘Kovalam Beach’.
INTRODUCTION
On 16th
November 2017 at 8 am after breakfast from Fathima Memorial Training College,
Pallimukku we started our journey. The total strength of students and teachers
were 110. From English optional the number of students were 23 in number. In
two buses we started our journey and our first destination was Kuthiramalika,
then Chithralayam, Napier Museum and finally Kovalam Beach.
KUTHIRAMALIKA
Kuthira Malika is a
place built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma on the south-eastern side of
Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum. The palace gets its name from the 122
horses that are carved into the wooden wall brackets that support the southern
roof. The official name of the palace is Puthen Malika. The palace forms part
of a vast complex of royal buildings in the vicinity of Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The building was left unoccupied for more than a century, following the demise
of Swathi Thirunal in 1846.
Built in 1840s, Kuthira
Malika is an example of traditional Kerala architecture, with its typical
sloping roofs, overhanging eaves, pillared verandahs and enclosed courtyards.
Intricate carvings adorn the wooden ceilings, with each room having a distinctive
pattern. The construction of the palace was completed by 5000 Vishwabrahmins in
four years. The palace is made from teakwood, rosewood, marble, and granite.
The roof of the palace is made of wood and 42 beams support the carved
patterns. The roof is supported by granite pillars. Floral motifs dot the
ceiling of the verandah. The main 16 rooms of the palace are constructed in 16
different patterns. In all, the palace contains 80 rooms, of which 20 were
opened for visitors in 1995. The floor inside the palace is made of egg whites,
charcoal, and limestone, which make it cold and smooth even in hot weather
conditions. The concert venue built in the palace premises uses traditional
sound reflectors comprising fifty clay pots hung upside down from the ceiling.
A
portion of Kuthira Malika has been converted to a Palace Museum that houses
some of the assets occurred by the Travancore Royal Family. Although 80 rooms
are there in the palace, only 20 are open for visitors. A guided tour is
available inside the palace. The palace collections include 14 life-size
Kathakali mannequins, Belgian and Italian mirrors, crystal chandeliers,
paintings, a giant Belgian harpoon, ornaments, musical instruments, traditional
furniture, Greek statues, a musical tree which produces 8 sounds on trapping
and other artifacts. On the right side of the mannequins are the ivory cradles
of various sizes. The palace has on display two royal thrones, one made from 24
elephant tusks (Dantasimhasana) and the other Bohemian crystal with the
Travancore emblem ‘conch’ adorning the top of the backrest. The palace has a
large collection of idols and sculptures made from white marble. On the first
floor are rooms that once served as the audience chamber, the library and an
alcove that Swathi Thirunal used for meditating and for conceiving many of his
famous view of the Padmanabhaswamy
temple gopuram. The small wooden stair there contains
carvings of peacock, elephant, and dragon. Ceilings of the rooms contain
paintings of parrot, peacock and elephant. One of the rooms displays an
illusion portrait of Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, painted by
Svetoslav Roerich. The fame and the shoes of the king appear facing the
onlooker from every corner of the room.
The
courtyard of Kuthira Malika is the venue for Swathi Sangeethotsavam (also known
as Kuthira Malika Festival), a yearly music festival commemorating the legacy
of Swathi Thirunal. This music festival is conducted from 6 to 12 January every
year. It attracts many of the leading stalwarts of Carnatic and Hindustani
classical music.
CHITHRALAYAM
Chithralayam is a
museum that offers a time-travel through the last two hundred years of
Travancore. Conceived by the late Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the
museum provides the public an authentic perspective on the history, tradition
and culture of Travancore.
The
museum, with its rare collections that shaped modern Travancore, not only but
also provides a rare insight into the glittering past of the state. Besides the
valuable articles possessed by the royalty, the collection also includes
several fascinating photographs taken by eminent photographers including the
Highness himself.
The
pictures have been meticulously selected and great care has been taken in
preparing them. The photographs have been blown up for effect and are painted
in quality archival ink and paintings are enhanced using oil colors, so that
they will reflect the real heritage of Travancore. Each image is lit up with
mood lighting and is supported by an attractive frame that adds more
Charm to them. A multimedia presentation of the
pictures is available on request from the visitors on request, they would also
be provided with an I pod, which would give them details regarding the
artifacts on display. The museum is open from 9am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm.
The
paintings and photographs are inside the royal ambiance of Rangavilasam Palace
near Vettimurichakotta in the East Fort. The palace with its splendid
architecture is a spectacle in itself. Built in the year 1839 by the then
Maharaja of Travancore Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, the palace stands testimony
to the splendor of Kerala style of architecture. The ornate roofs, wooden
pillars, wood-carved gables and wonderful façade all make it simple, flawless
and fascinating. It was the traditional art and picture gallery of the
Travancore royal family.
NAPIER
MUSEUM
The Napier Museum is an
art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city
of Kerala. The museum is about 6 km from the city. Visiting hours: Open 10 am –
4:45pm. Closed on Mondays, Wednesday forenoons, January 26, August 15,
Thiruvonam and Mahanavami.
The
museum was established in 1855. In 1874, the old Museum Building was demolished
and foundation for the new building was laid. The new building was named after
Lord Napier, the Governor of Madras from 1866-1872.
The
architectural masterpiece was designed by Robert Chisholm, the consulting
Architect of the Madras Government, and the construction was completed in 1880.
Napier Museum is a landmark in the city with its unique ornamentation and
architectural style with gothic roof and minarets. The Indo-Saracen structure
also boasts a natural air conditioning system.
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 ground also
hold the famous Trivandrum Zoo, which is one of the oldest Zoological gardens
in India. This Zoo was established in 1857 and is spread over 55 acres of land.
KOVALAM
BEACH
Kovalam is a beach
tower by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala located around 18 km
south of the city center. Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky
outcroppings in its 17 km coast line, the three together form the famous
crescent of the Kovalam beach. The Lighthouse Beach is the larger of the
beaches in Kovalam. The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach is one most
frequented by tourists, Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam
Lighthouse located on a 35 meter high on top of the Kurumkal hillock. The
lighthouse is built using stones, is colored in red and white bands and enjoys
a height of 118 feet. Its intermittent beams at night render the beach with an
unearthly charm. The other two famous beaches are Hawah beach and Samudra
Beach. Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the
hippy era. It still has a high status among tourist, who arrive mostly from
Europe and Israel. Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of
several Ayurvedic saloons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which
provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.
CONCLUSION
The
trip was really interesting and helped to know about the heritage and culture
of the ancient Kerala. ‘Kuthira Malika’ is a place filled with historic relies
and gives a glimpse of Travancore Kingdom which has its unique history. The
architecture is also an important factor here. ‘Chithralayam’ is a museum that
provides an authentic perspective on history, tradition, and culture of
Travancore. ‘Napier Museum’ displays the rich cultural heritage of Kerala. The
Shining star of Kovalam, the ‘Lighthouse Beach’ is a magnificent mix of
gleaming sand, rocking waves and blue aquamarine waters and it makes us think
of Pam Shaw quote that “After a visit to the beach it’s hard to believe that we
live in a material world”. On the whole the trip was really interesting and
informative and contributed a lot to the development of aesthetic sense,
imagination and creativity. And after dinner from a hotel in Trivandrum we
reached the college by 10pm. The trip was informative and enjoyable.
Comments
Post a Comment