About 18km from Thiruvananthapuram, the Koyikkal Palace is located at Nedumangad. This museum is famous for the two houses, one of the folklore and the other of the numismatics. The structure of the Koyikkal Palace is a double storied traditional nalukettu with slanting roofs and an inner courtyard. Presently, the Department of Archaeology set up the Folklore museum and the numismatic museum.
It was in the year 1992; the Folklore Museum was set up. It houses charming musical instruments, household utensils, occupational implements and models of folk art. The musical instruments include a small percussion instrument used as an accompaniment while reciting the ballad Ramakathappattu, i.e. the story of Lord Rama and another sweet sounding musical instrument made of wood and string used while singing the Onappattu and Nanthunippattu during Onam the harvest festival of Kerala. Other than this, it also has a variety of household utensils including brass/copper ware and wooden kitchenware.
Again, the Numismatics Museum is set at the ground floor of the Koyikkal Palace. The coins that have been exhibited here is belongs to the different periods of history and also the different parts of the world. The other exhibits include Ottaputhen, Erattaputhen and Panam (some of the oldest coins of Kerala). A Venetian coin, which was believed to be presented to Jesus Christ named Amaida is also the property of the museum. There are also a large number of Roman gold coins, coins belonging to Gwalior Royal Family, the Nizam of Hyderabad, Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and many others.
People who are eager to visit the museum may come from 9am to 5pm. The museum remains close on every Monday.
