Kunnamangalam: Water, Art and Tradition

The Water Heritage Museum and Biopark gives Kunnamangalam a distinctive cultural focal point: its exhibitions combine artistic works with themes related to water and Kerala’s traditional agriculture. Along the way, you’ll encounter a variety of materials, a traditional gateway and exhibits that focus on the state’s relationship with water. If you like to combine your stay with culture and regional themes, this offers a concrete starting point for planning your visit.

Art in a variety of materials

The Water Heritage Museum and Biopark’s exhibitions include sculptures, paintings and still lifes made from clay, hay, plastic, plaster and waste materials. This unusual variety of materials gives the works a tangible quality: alongside the subjects themselves, the materials they are made from stand out. You can choose your own focus for your visit—for example, the sculptures, paintings or still lifes. This also makes the collection interesting for travellers who are interested in art and design, while keeping the site’s themes in view.

At the Water Heritage Museum and Biopark, visitors are welcomed by a Padipura, a traditional gateway often found in Kerala’s aristocratic homes. It adds an architectural dimension to the visit and serves as a distinct cultural feature alongside the exhibitions. The subjects covered at the museum also extend beyond art and design: the Idukki Hydroelectric Project is explored in relation to Kerala’s relationship with water, and the River Nila, also known as the Bharathapuzha, is celebrated.

Agriculture and water as themes

Kerala’s traditional agricultural practices are presented through exhibitions on Pokkali cultivation, coir making and lime shell harvesting. These three themes offer insight into different practices displayed side by side at the museum. Together with the Idukki Hydroelectric Project, which is explored in relation to Kerala’s relationship with water, and the celebration of the River Nila, the themes span everything from agriculture to Kerala’s connection with water. You can shape your visit according to whether you are more interested in the artistic works, the agricultural exhibitions or Kerala’s relationship with water.

More to explore in the wider destination of Kozhikode

In the wider destination of Kozhikode, nature takes centre stage at Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, a habitat for more than 60 different species of migratory birds. The mangrove forests of Kadalundi also provide a natural habitat for otters and jackals. Visitors can take boat trips or go hiking in the sanctuary. Boat trips and hikes offer different ways to experience the landscape and its wildlife.

Also in the wider destination of Kozhikode, Beypore focuses on traditional craftsmanship. The town is known for its centuries-old tradition of making Uru boats. Visitors can watch them being made and talk with the craftspeople about their work. At Mananchira Square, by contrast, the focus is on Mananchira, an artificial freshwater pond dating back to the 14th century. The square’s open-air theatre hosts traditional music and dance performances, theatre productions and public gatherings. These examples illustrate the different cultural and natural themes Kozhikode has to offer as you plan your trip.

Choose the right focus for your accommodation search

When looking for a holiday apartment, it can help to first sort out which experiences interest you most. Kunnamangalam offers a clear cultural focal point centred on museum exhibitions, art, water and agriculture. The wider destination of Kozhikode also offers, among other things, wildlife watching and boat trips in Kadalundi, as well as traditional craftsmanship in Beypore. This distinction between themes gives you a practical guide to deciding which place to look into more closely for your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kakkayam, Feroke, Kozhikode, Poonoor, Kappad, Koyilandy.

Return to the main travel overview: Kozhikode.