Add this unique museum to your next Munnar itinerary: What to see, expected inauguration timeline

Kerala's Idukki is home to stunning destinations like Munnar, Thekkady, and Vattavada, all celebrated for their breathtaking scenery. However, the district also has a rich culture and history, largely unexplored by tourists. Those who want to understand the region beyond its serene landscape can soon head to a unique museum that will be located near the renowned Idukki Arch Dam. Named the 'Settlement Memorial Museum,' an initiative of the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), its first phase has been completed and will soon be ready for inauguration. According to the Idukki DTPC, the museum will open in a few months.
Spread over five acres, it depicts the struggles, displacement, and resilience of the high-range settlers, who migrated to Idukki from various regions for agriculture and plantation work, battling a tough terrain, wildlife and high altitudes. While various movies like the Fahadh Faasil-starrer 'Iyobinte Pusthakam' have showcased a few slices of their life, tourists will soon get to discover the settlers' adventurous lives in detail. 

What tourists get to see
A glimpse into the gritty, adventurous past, featuring sculptures and carvings commemorating the migration to the mountainous terrains of Idukki in the early 20th century. It also showcases their settlement struggles, displacement, and resilience in the face of adversity.

The entrance to the memorial village features the huge sculpture of a farmer. A stone-paved walkway leads visitors to six spots adorned with lifelike sculptures. These concrete structures vividly portray historical moments, including the contributions of the prominent Kerala leader AK Gopalan and the priest-activist who fought for their rights, depictions of village life, agricultural practices, and the devastating effects of landslides. At the highest point, a memorial museum and a coffee shop have been set up for visitors.

The museum is divided into seven thematic areas, each narrating a significant aspect of high-range migration history. The first major attraction is a 36.5-foot-high entrance arch, designed as a farmer wearing a traditional hat. Scenes of people defending their homes and farmlands from wild elephants using fire torches and drumbeats have been recreated. Another section portrays early agricultural practices, showing how settlers first cultivated tapioca and paddy. The sculptures depict traditional plowing techniques and paddy sowing. Tourists can spend around an hour there on average, exploring the various facets of settlers' lives.