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{{short description|Museum in India}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Kulathupuzha Forest Museum
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| image = Forest Museum Kulathuppuzha 2025.jpg
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| coordinates = {{Coord|8|54|21.63|N|77|3|25.95|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
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| established = {{start date and age|2023|08|18}}
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| location = [[Kulathupuzha]], [[Kollam district]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| type = Forestry Museum
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| owner = [[Kerala Forest Department]]
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'''Kulathupuzha Forest Museum''' is a museum in India. It is located in [[Kulathupuzha]] in [[Kollam district]] of Kerala. It is the first and largest forest museum in Kerala.

==Overview==
The Kulathupuzha Forest Museum is set on 3.3 acres of land under the Kulathupuzha Forest Office Range.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kulathupuzha Forest Museum {{!}} Forest Department |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/kulathupuzha-forest-museum/676/ |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=www.keralatourism.org |publisher=Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala |language=en}}</ref> There is a small forest near the museum on the banks of the Kulathupuzha river (a tributary of [[Kallada River|Kallada river]]).<ref name="Madhyamam" /> The museum is set up in such a way that visitors can experience the same sounds and lights that they would experience while walking through the forest.<ref name="news18">{{Cite web |date=2024-12-03 |title=കുളത്തുപ്പുഴ ഫോറസ്റ്റ് മ്യൂസിയം: കേരളത്തിലെ ആദ്യത്തെ വന മ്യൂസിയം |url=https://malayalam.news18.com/news/kerala/kollam-kulathupuzha-forest-museum-local18-702809.html |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=malayalam.news18.com |language=ml}}</ref> Located in [[Kulathupuzha]] in [[Kollam district]] of Kerala, this museum also allow visitors to view different models of forests, different animal sculptures, samples of forest resources and timber species, and samples of tribal heritage of Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-08-16 |title=Kulathupuzha Forest Museum inauguration on Aug. 18 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kulathupuzha-forest-museum-inauguration-on-aug-18/article67201816.ece |access-date=2025-07-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="news18" /> Another attraction is the virtual zoo, created using artificial intelligence and virtual reality.<ref name="news18" /> The museum complex, which has five exhibition halls, also includes facilities such as a children's playground, food court, eco shop, and guest house.<ref name="news18" /><ref name="Madhyamam">{{Cite web |last=Kulathupuzha |first=Mansoor |date=2024-02-19 |title=സഞ്ചാരികൾക്ക് പ്രിയങ്കരമായി കുളത്തൂപ്പുഴ വനം മ്യൂസിയം {{!}} Kulathupuzha Forest Museum is popular among tourists |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/local-news/kollam/kulathupuzha/kulathupuzha-forest-museum-is-popular-among-tourists-1259138 |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=www.madhyamam.com |publisher=[[Madhyamam]] |language=ml}}</ref>

It is the first forest museum in Kerala.<ref name="gov">{{cite web |title=Kerala's First Forest Museum at Kulathupuzha, Kollam |url=https://kerala.gov.in/articledetail/NjE0NjMwNTMwLjg=/0?lan=en |website=kerala.gov.in |publisher=[[Government of Kerala]] |language=en}}</ref> It is also the largest forest museum in Kerala.<ref name="Manorama">{{Cite web |last=ലേഖകൻ |first=സ്വന്തം |date=2023-08-19 |title=സംസ്ഥാനത്തെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ വനംമ്യൂസിയം തുറന്നു |url=https://www.manoramanews.com/kerala/latest/2023/08/19/state-s-largest-forest-museum-opened.html |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=Manoramanews |language=en-US}}</ref>

The museum, which is under the [[Kerala Forest Department]], is managed by the Thiruvananthapuram Forest Development Agency.<ref name="Manoramaonline">{{cite news |title=നാച്വറൽ ഹിസ്റ്ററി ഫോറസ്റ്റ് മ്യൂസിയം ഇന്നു തുറക്കും |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/kollam/2023/08/18/kollam-kulathupuzha-forest-museum.html |work=Manoramaonline |agency=[[Malayala Manorama]] |language=ml}}</ref>

==History==
The first phase of the forest museum, which was approved by the government in 2017, was completed in 2021 with an allocation of Rs 9.85 crore under the Eco-tourism project.<ref name="Manoramaonline"/> Of the total cost, Rs 5.48 crore was spent on the construction of buildings and Rs 4.37 crore on the exhibition materials and the accompanying sound and lighting.<ref name="Manoramaonline"/> Kerala Forest Minister [[A. K. Saseendran]] inaugurated the museum and opened to public in August 18, 2023.<ref name="Hindu">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-08-18 |title=Forest museum at Kulathupuzha inaugurated |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/forest-museum-at-kulathupuzha-inaugurated/article67209789.ece |access-date=2025-07-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Aim==
This natural history museum aims to educate people about nature, biodiversity, and culture, and to provide research opportunities.<ref name="news18" />

==Location==
Situated about 10 km from [[Kulathupuzha]] town in [[Kollam district]], along the Thiruvananthapuram-Senkotta Interstate Highway, the Forest Museum is well connected to nearby cities by road.<ref name="hitvm">{{cite web |title=Kulathupuzha Forest Museum Thiruvananthapuram - Hi TVM Tourist Places |url=https://hitvm.in/kulathupuzhaforestmuseum.html |website=hitvm.in}}</ref><ref name="Times">{{Cite web |title=സഞ്ചാരികൾക്കായി കുളത്തൂപ്പുഴ മ്യൂസിയം തുറന്നു; കാടിനെ കുറിച്ചറിയേണ്ടവർക്ക് സ്വാഗതം |url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/local-news/kollam/minister-ak-saseendran-inaugurated-kulathupuzha-forest-museum-in-kollam/articleshow/102848724.cms |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=Samayam Malayalam |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |language=ml}}</ref> The nearest major railway station is [[Punalur railway station]], which is about 27 km from the museum, while the nearest airport is [[Thiruvananthapuram International Airport]], which is about 75 km away.<ref name="hitvm"/>

==Entry==
The museum, which is open to the public every day except Monday from 10 am to 6 pm, has an entry fee of Rs 30 for adults and Rs 10 for children below 12 years of age and students with ID cards.<ref name="hitvm"/>

==Future development goals==
With the first phase of museum project being a success, the Forest Department is gearing up for the second phase of development activities. In the second phase, a bathing area, seating areas, and gardens will be built on the banks of the Kulathupuzha River, which flows alongside the museum.<ref name="Madhyamam" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Tourism in Kerala|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Museums in Kerala]]
[[Category:Forestry museums in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kollam district]]
[[Category:Museums established in 2023]]
[[Category:2023 establishments in Kerala]]

Kulathupuzha Forest Museum - Revision history

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