Bay Island Driftwood Museum
Bay Island Driftwood Museum
4.5
11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
74 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
31
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Rajiv Bajaj
New Delhi, India2,054 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
We had never heard of this museum before and it was recommended to us by our driver Dhanesh as one of the places to visit in Kumarakom. I am so glad we needed his suggestion and visited the museum.
Bay Island Driftwood Museum claims to be the only museum of its kind in India where driftwood sculptures crafted by nature are on display.
According to Ms Raji Punnoose and her husband Mr Cherian Punnoose, the couple who own and run the place, driftwood is shaped over the years, sometimes centuries, by the sea and natural elements, and sometimes the finished piece bears an uncanny resemblance to different creatures and objects.
It is these naturally formed driftwood sculptures that have been painstakingly collected by the couple over the years and polished to perfection which are on display here. The pieces on display, accompanied by their individually framed descriptions, make for a very interesting viewing, especially if you are an art lover and someone with a vivid imagination.
What makes it even more interesting is the fact that Ms Raji personally takes you around the place, giving a passionate commentary on each piece on display.
Some of the pieces have been lit by small spotlights and they cast some very interesting shadows on the wall, leaving one awestruck.
In my honest opinion this place deserves to be on a must-visit list for places in Kumarakom.
Bay Island Driftwood Museum claims to be the only museum of its kind in India where driftwood sculptures crafted by nature are on display.
According to Ms Raji Punnoose and her husband Mr Cherian Punnoose, the couple who own and run the place, driftwood is shaped over the years, sometimes centuries, by the sea and natural elements, and sometimes the finished piece bears an uncanny resemblance to different creatures and objects.
It is these naturally formed driftwood sculptures that have been painstakingly collected by the couple over the years and polished to perfection which are on display here. The pieces on display, accompanied by their individually framed descriptions, make for a very interesting viewing, especially if you are an art lover and someone with a vivid imagination.
What makes it even more interesting is the fact that Ms Raji personally takes you around the place, giving a passionate commentary on each piece on display.
Some of the pieces have been lit by small spotlights and they cast some very interesting shadows on the wall, leaving one awestruck.
In my honest opinion this place deserves to be on a must-visit list for places in Kumarakom.
Written October 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reine
Beirut, Lebanon12 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
What a beautiful beautiful surprise. I had no Pam so I decided to visit the museum and I am more then happy that I did. Not only becoz u can see how nature is the biggest sculpture designer. Amazing and unique pieces but the lady behind the the museum makes all the difference. With her passion to what she does and her willpower and determination she brings those piece into life.
It is no doubt a must visit Thank u so much for ur time and energy and achievement.
It is no doubt a must visit Thank u so much for ur time and energy and achievement.
Written December 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mannaiprak
Sriperumbudur, India172 contributions
Jan 2015 • Family
It was a wonderful experience with getting the insights about the exhibits by the same person who had collected the same over many years and still preserving it with an excellent museum. Knowing further that this is one of its kind in teh world makes it still special. Had a nice 1 hour spent hearing all the intricate stories behind every exhibit..
Written February 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
venug
Goa18 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
The museum is good and the efforts by the lady is appreciated. May be most she benifitted being in andamans for over 30 years. There should be an audio guide for each or few exhibits rather than she trying to tell us. in addition it should be left to the tourist to see things at their pace rather than the pace being dominated.
Written September 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Satish_Joshi
3 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
A unique collection of driftwood, collected and finished painstakingly by Ms. Raji Punnoose over decades of her stay in Andamans with her husband who worked there at the port. She sees shapes and features in the fossilized rosewood pieces which an uninitiated eye would surely miss. She, in her abundant enthusiasm, points out a bird ready to launch into a flight, a fat frog heavy with eggs about to leap, a female dog looking back at her puppy trying to climb onto her back, the natural eye marks appearing magically at the right place on several faces. She asks you to step back or come very close to an exhibit for a close view for you to notice something, which you do with difficulty while she has done it effortlessly: a partly open beak of a bird with just the right gap, gape inside the jaws of a shark, the sunken stomach of a aborigine widow who is left to die in a hut on top of her husband's grave and dozens of other exhibits.
You leave the one-of-a-kind museum in India wonder-struck at the child-like enthusiasm of Ms. Rajee and her abiding faith and trust in her Lord who, through a series of miracles, has helped her achieve this feat almost single handedly.
Highly recommended for those who would like to see something which becomes visible only on being pointed out by somebody who instinctively sees it.
You leave the one-of-a-kind museum in India wonder-struck at the child-like enthusiasm of Ms. Rajee and her abiding faith and trust in her Lord who, through a series of miracles, has helped her achieve this feat almost single handedly.
Highly recommended for those who would like to see something which becomes visible only on being pointed out by somebody who instinctively sees it.
Written July 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aneesh2
Hyderabad, India3 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
One of the best things to visit in kumarakom is the bay island driftwood museum. Its called so because all the sculptures are naturally built on driftwood that's found on the shores of the Bay island in Andaman's after tide receeds. It is a wonderful experience for people who want to see something unique and cherish the beauty of wooden sculptures handcrafted by mother nature herself. Must see.
Written November 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hoolavoo
California11 contributions
May 2011
One of a kind. Artistic works crafted by nature (with some help and finishing touches from human hands). Driftwood that has been crafted into various forms by the sea. The passion, creativity and commitment displayed by Raji who is the person behind it is commendable. Would definitely recommend visiting.
One aspect that could have been better is that the museum tour experience is largely one of a school teacher herding distracted toddlers. I could have easily imagined spending an hour or two here with my older child, trying to interpret these works of nature instead of being breezed through it in 15 minutes and being told what we MUST see in each piece. It would be nice if she allows visitors to chose between the 15 minute crash course tour led by her or let visitors linger around by themselves, take their time on it, and then go have a conversation with her on them. (like a real art museum).
One aspect that could have been better is that the museum tour experience is largely one of a school teacher herding distracted toddlers. I could have easily imagined spending an hour or two here with my older child, trying to interpret these works of nature instead of being breezed through it in 15 minutes and being told what we MUST see in each piece. It would be nice if she allows visitors to chose between the 15 minute crash course tour led by her or let visitors linger around by themselves, take their time on it, and then go have a conversation with her on them. (like a real art museum).
Written May 14, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rodaholiday
Quadra Island, Canada91 contributions
Jan 2020
Really interesting museum with great history. The owner is really knowledgeable. Well worth a visit. Parking and nominal entry charge.
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael t
Greater London, UK65 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
It’s all been said in the others reviews.
From my point I think if you have an artistic or spiritual view on life then this is an interesting place to visit the owner is passionate but rather dominates the visit, although I have to say the exhibits were impressive,
I’m glad I went and 100r well worth it considering the work she has put into it
Not suitable for younger children
From my point I think if you have an artistic or spiritual view on life then this is an interesting place to visit the owner is passionate but rather dominates the visit, although I have to say the exhibits were impressive,
I’m glad I went and 100r well worth it considering the work she has put into it
Not suitable for younger children
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sahir S
Marietta, GA29 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
Raje, the collector-artist, has accumulated an amazing collection of petrified rosewood fossils that are harvested from the Andaman Islands. She has the special vision to display different aspects of nature in the fossils created by nature and perfected by her.
Written December 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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