Sri Chithra Art Gallery in Kovalam
On the coast of the Arabian Sea, there is a charming resort town called Kovalam. This former fishing village is now known as one of the most popular destinations for beach holidays. A distinctive feature of Kovalam resorts is the abundance of Ayurvedic clinics and massage parlours. Fifteen kilometres from the town is the capital of Kerala state. The luxurious palaces and famous temples of Trivandrum are well worth seeing. In the city centre, on a vast parkland, lies a museum complex which includes the Sree Chitra Art Gallery.
Kovalam Resort
The first Europeans arrived in the poor fishing village in the thirties of the last century, but it wasn't until the sixties, when the luxurious sandy beaches were favoured by hippies, that hotels began to be built here. Now it is one of the most «Europeanised» places in India.
Hotel staff, souvenir shop vendors, restaurant and cafe owners, and even some street traders are able to communicate with visitors in passable English. Eateries cater to cuisine familiar to Westerners, but you can always find traditional local dishes there too.
The beaches are always crowded with beggars and petty thieves. Locals don't mind posing for photos with visiting young women in revealing swimsuits, and sometimes they secretly film the beautiful ladies on their phones.
Sri Chitra Art Gallery
The Sri Chitra Gallery building is located opposite the Government Museum of Arts and Crafts of India. It houses paintings from the Rajput, Mughal, and Tanjore schools, as well as works by Chinese, Tibetan, and Japanese masters. The exhibition features canvases by the great Russian artist, philosopher, and India researcher, Nicholas Roerich, including «Genezaret Lake», «River in the Himalayas», and «The Message of Shambala».
However, the gallery's most famous exhibits are by the renowned Indian artists Raja Ravi Varma (1848 – 1906), his sister Mangalabai Thampurati, and his uncle Rajah Rajavarman. Ravi Varma is famous for being the first in India to paint with oils.
Sri Chitra Photo Gallery
Raja Ravi Varma
An Indian artist was born into an aristocratic family and, from a young age, displayed an extraordinary talent for painting. His uncle, Raj Varma, supported Ravi and encouraged his further education. Initially, the future artist took a course in traditional Indian painting, then he took lessons from a British portraitist invited to the rulers' court.
Despite Ravi Varma belonging to the ruling circles of the princely state, he never bore the title of Raja (prince). However, in Europe, after an exhibition in Vienna, he became known as the prince-artist, Raja Ravi Varma.
Nicholas Roerich
Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich (1874 – 1947) was awarded the title of academician of the Imperial Russian Academy of Arts in 1909. His legacy includes not only around seven thousand paintings but also almost thirty volumes of literary and philosophical works.
The second half of his life the artist spent travelling around Asia, organising expeditions to Manchuria and the Himalayas. From 1935, Nikolai Konstantinovich settled in India. Art historians consider the Indian period of Roerich's work to be the most prolific. In 1940, the Sri Chithralayam gallery allocated a separate wing to the painter's works.
Interesting places located near Sri Chitra Gallery
Tourist information
You can get from Kovalam to Trivandrum independently by bus or a hired car. Hotels and tourist agencies offer tours of the capital, including visits to the Art Gallery. However, the cost of a Russian-speaking guide is not always included. It's best to sort this out before you go, as there might be additional expenses. The Sri Chitra museum complex and art gallery are closed on Monday and Wednesday mornings.
Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala, from where it often begins Ayurveda tour to Indiaattractions can be easily combined with a health programme.
