The Teak Museum in Kerala, One of the First of Its Kind in the World

The museum is located at a distance of about 4 km from Nilambur town, in the Malappuram district of Kerala. Teak grows naturally in India and Kerala is a state where you will find a major part of teak forest in the country.

History

The museum was established in the year 1995 on the campus of the centre of Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI). The museum was founded mainly because of the historical importance of the tree in this area. The teak plantation was originally started in Nilambur in the 1840s by the British, which as the world’s first teak plantation.

Attraction

The museum is a two storey building and is regarded as the first museum of its kind in the entire world. The museum is managed by the Kerala Forest Research Institute and it displays detail information on the aspects of the use of teak and the other articles on the subject. Thousands of tourists visit this museum all around the year.

This thematic museum is a home to the exhibits that are related to the cultural, historical, artistic and scientific aspects of teak. The path to the museum is lined with a collection of bamboo trees, which adds beauty to this location. At the entrance of the museum, you will notice a carved teak door that has a painting of the oldest living teak tree, the Kannimara teak.

The root system of a mature teak tree is the main highlight among the displays of this place. The walls of the museum bear the paintings that relates to the early history of the teak plantation. There is also a huge log of a 116 year old teak tree, which has been well preserved at this place. The library in the museum includes a world literature on the teak tree. Besides these, the other attractions of this place are the miniature model of an antique sailing vessel structured out of a teak wood and an attractive painting of a sailing ship.

There is also a butterfly park inside the Teak museum, which is only open on certain seasons. The park gives you a fair idea about the diverse species of butterflies that can be spotted in a teak plantation.

Best Time to Visit

As there is no specific season mentioned to visit the museum, the place can be visited throughout the year.

Visiting Time: The museum is open on all days of the week except on Mondays, from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm.

Accommodation

As Nilambur is the largest town and a major tourist destination in the Malappuram district of Kerala, you will find plenty of options for accommodation at this place. The town is dotted with various budget and luxury class hotels that are equipped with almost all the modern day amenities, making your stay into a memorable one. Travelers from every budget can find accommodation at this place according to their preferences.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest major airport to this museum is Calicut International Airport, located at a distance of about 48 km. The airport is well connected with various major cities within the country as well as other cities in the world. Regular bus and taxi services are available from the airport to the place.

By Train: The nearest railway station to the Teak Museum is Nilambur Road Terminus Railway Station, located at a distance of about 4 km from the main town. Local and hired taxis are available from the station to get to the place.

By Road: The museum can be easily accessed by road from the main town in Nilambur, located at a distance of about 4 km. Local and hired taxis are available from the town to get to the place. The Nilambur town is connected with regular bus services from places like Calicut (58 km), Thrissur (110 km) and other major parts in the state.