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A century-old boat jetty here, once a busy trade centre during the royal era, will soon become a biodiversity museum and is expected to boost tourism prospects of the city.
Built by the Travancore royals, the heritage jetty located at coastal Vallakkadavu, about 5 km from here, had been left unused for decades with the advent of modern transport systems.
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has taken the initiative for converting the jetty to showcase the terrestrial biodiversity of Kerala.
Biodiversity hotspots
The board has renovated the 5,000 sq ft jetty to exhibit the rich and rare biodiversity legacy of the state and it will be open for public soon, KSBB sources said.
The museum is expected to boost the tourism prospects of the state capital and woo nature enthusiasts and students to have a glance of the biodiversity of all the 14 districts of Kerala, besides creating awareness about its conservation.
It will have a 3D theatre, exhibits throwing light into the biodiversity hotspots of the state from the below-sea-level farming of Kuttanad, popularly known as the ‘rice bowl’ of the state, to the unique biodiversity of high-range Agasthyamala, display of rare seeds and screening boards showing conservation messages, the sources said.
Heritage value
Commenting on the project, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said its objective is to create knowledge and awareness on the need for protecting and preserving the biodiversity. Highlighting the heritage significance of the project, he pointed out that the museum was coming up at a structure built by the Travancore royal family.
Vallakkadavu boat jetty was the hub of trade and commerce in the erstwhile princely state, he said.
“The state Biodiversity Museum is getting ready in the state capital. Science on Sphere and a 3D theatre on biodiversity are among its major attractions,” Vijayan said in a Facebook post.
Science On a Sphere (SOS) is a room sized, global display system that uses computers and video projectors to display planetary data onto a 6-foot diameter sphere, analogous to a giant animated globe.
The Chief Minister said this was the first time that such a facility is introduced in the state.
Detailing the features of the museum, he said the core subjects such as biodiversity, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity products had been given importance in its design.
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