An 8-hour drive from Ernakulam lands you at the remote and tranquil town of Edapally in central Kerala. The town welcomes you with a showcase of historic episodes, right from the Neolithic to the modern era, as Madhavan Nayar Foundation. Nestled peacefully away from the hustles and bustles of city life, the foundation, housing the museum, is sited amid lush green greens and scenic natural beauty. As you enter the museum compound, the statue of Parasurama, the sage believed to have created Kerala, stands to greet you. Also referred to as the Museum of Kerala History, this foundation displays relics and remnants, varying from ancient times to the present era through life-size crafted sculptures of the pioneers of Kerala history. The foundation organizes light and sound shows on a regular basis, with commentaries in both English and Malayalam.The gallery has about 200 original works by contemporary Indian artists, displaying paintings and sculptures. The Center for Visual Arts at the museum has a collection of genuine reproduction of select world masters and larger-than-life mural reproductions of Indian art. Apart from the murals and Indian art for which the museum is famous, it also presents a collection of handmade dolls, narrating the story of cultural diversity through different scenes from the lives of people living in different states of India. Right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to the northeastern states, the dolls are crafted accordingly. The foundation interests a number of tourists round the year from India and abroad, who wish to capture a closer glimpse of the history and heritage of Kerala and the cultural legacy of India. The closest railway station is at Ernakulam, about 8 km, while the nearest airdrome is Cochin International Airport, at 20 km from Ernakulam.
