The Bay Island Driftwood Museum is a unique museum located in Kumarakom, Kerala, India. It is known for its extensive collection of driftwood sculptures. The museum was established by Raji Punnoose, a schoolteacher and self-taught artist, who started collecting driftwood from various beaches in India and around the world.
The museum showcases an impressive range of intricate and beautifully crafted sculptures made entirely from driftwood. Each sculpture is a testament to Punnoose’s artistic talent and creativity. The collection includes a variety of forms such as animals, birds, marine creatures, and abstract pieces. Some of the sculptures are massive in size, while others are delicate and intricate.
What makes the Bay Island Driftwood Museum particularly fascinating is the way the sculptures are crafted. Punnoose carefully selects pieces of driftwood based on their shapes, textures, and natural forms. He then skillfully carves and shapes the wood to bring out the inherent beauty of each piece. The sculptures are not painted or polished, allowing the natural textures and colors of the driftwood to shine through.
Visiting the Bay Island Driftwood Museum provides a unique and immersive experience for art lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. The museum is set in a tranquil location surrounded by lush greenery and offers a serene atmosphere for visitors to appreciate the artistry of the driftwood sculptures.
The Bay Island Driftwood Museum has gained recognition both nationally and internationally for its exceptional collection. It has become a popular tourist attraction in Kumarakom, attracting visitors from different parts of the world. The museum also serves as a platform for promoting environmental conservation by showcasing the beauty and artistic potential of driftwood, which would otherwise be discarded.
If you plan to visit the Bay Island Driftwood Museum, it is advisable to check the operating hours and admission fees in advance, as they may be subject to change.
Bay Island Driftwood Museum founder was Raji Punnoose, a teacher in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. During her professional tenure in the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago, a dynamic lady school teacher used to pick up pieces of driftwood deposited by the sea on the shores, comprising twisted tree trunks, stumps, roots, etc. which had the potential for transformation into sculptures with marginal efforts.
It’s incredible to see the power of nature as some of the objects were seasoned in the Bay of Bengal for centuries and molded as sculptures through the hydrodynamic process of the sea waves. This Museum entered the Limca Book of Records in 2010 and the citation reads as “The Limca Book of Records has certified that Bay Island Museum (est. 2001) located in Kumarakom, the only driftwood museum, showcases objects that have been painstakingly recovered and collected from the Andaman seas and beaches
The student fraternity finds this art form employed to prepare the exhibits in the museum very interesting as well as educative and enriching as the museum instills in them the finer qualities of creativity, initiative, imagination, and originality to create valuable articles out of materials that are otherwise considered waste.
Contact Address:
Bay Island Driftwood Museum, Chakranpadi (Near Lakshmi Hotel & Resort), Kumarakom North, Kottayam, Kerala 686 566
Museum: 0481-2525634,
Curator (Mob) : 94474-64296
Curator (Res) : 0481-2517530