Bay Island Driftwood Museum
Bay Island Driftwood Museum
4.5
11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
Closed
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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
78 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
31
Average
6
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Felix S
Dorset, UK15 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
A fascinating and unique experience being lead by the artist through her life’s work. It was truly amazing that these sculptures are naturally crafted and seeing the face of Mother Teresa in one was an extra special treat. We would not hesitate to recommend this museum.
Written 18 February 2025
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.
Allis0n8
Billericay, UK209 contributions
Feb 2025 • Couples
Amazing museum seeing different shapes and animals crafted in the driftwood. Raji showed us around describing how she collected the driftwood over the years starting with a monkey shape. We cycled along the road from the backwaters 100rupees entrance. Interesting place to visit.
Written 5 February 2025
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.
Sue W
1 contribution
Feb 2025 • Family
We found this museum via the internet and what a find! Mrs Raji Punnoose gave us an individual detailed tour of each of the exhibits alongside the context about how she found them. A fascinating story and a fascinating museum. Well worth visiting!
Written 11 February 2025
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.
Indraneel P
Mumbai, India50 contributions
May 2022 • Solo
I read about the Bay Island Driftwood museum and somewhat intrigued, walked the kilometer or so from my hotel in the late afternoon. I was welcomed by the Punnoose Couple and they specially opened up the museum for me, which was touching. Mrs. Raji Punnoose personally took me around and explained every exhibit.
Amazing is the only word I can use to explain this labour of love. Lovingly collected over 25 years in Andaman (where she worked as a school teacher along with Mr. Punnoose, who worked as a harbour engineer), the driftwood sculptures are nothing short of marvelous. Each piece clearly articulates an animal or a bird or a human or one of nature's myriad creations. Wood fossilized in the ocean over centuries takes on a heavy, metallic character. Its almost as if God decided to sculpt out his creations and chose Mrs. Punnoose, with her gift for picking out the distinctive shapes from the thousands of driftwood branches, to perform the task of picking out the sculptures and bringing them to the world! Highly recommend the tourism department to facilitate a light and sound show to bring each exhibit's story to life. The Punnoose couple's passion for their art shines through. Highly recommended for a visit!
Amazing is the only word I can use to explain this labour of love. Lovingly collected over 25 years in Andaman (where she worked as a school teacher along with Mr. Punnoose, who worked as a harbour engineer), the driftwood sculptures are nothing short of marvelous. Each piece clearly articulates an animal or a bird or a human or one of nature's myriad creations. Wood fossilized in the ocean over centuries takes on a heavy, metallic character. Its almost as if God decided to sculpt out his creations and chose Mrs. Punnoose, with her gift for picking out the distinctive shapes from the thousands of driftwood branches, to perform the task of picking out the sculptures and bringing them to the world! Highly recommend the tourism department to facilitate a light and sound show to bring each exhibit's story to life. The Punnoose couple's passion for their art shines through. Highly recommended for a visit!
Written 15 May 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.
Rajiv Bajaj
New Delhi, India2,053 contributions
Sept 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 17 October 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 9 December 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.
william s
32 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Who would have thought a driftwood museum would be interesting, but it was brilliant. In large part this is due to the owner/ curator who is a born enthusiast who has been collecting the exhibits throughout her life. Her enthusiasm is infectious. A must see if you are nearby.
Written 10 March 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.
Shiji Abraham
1 contribution
Dec 2019 • Couples
It is a unique museum with collection from mother Nature at Kumarakom. The museum Mrs. Rani Punnose is passionate about this collection and explains it with great interest which makes it even more exciting. This is definitely a place to visit.
Written 15 January 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.
mannaiprak
Sriperumbudur, India170 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 18 February 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
Sept 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 17 September 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.
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