Aksharam Museum in Kerala all set for expansion

The Aksharam Museum (Museum of Letters) in Kottayam is all set to commence its next phase of expansion.

According to V.N. Vasavan, Minister for Cooperatives, the construction activities for the second, third and fourth phases of the museum will begin on Saturday (March 14, 2026). Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has sanctioned ₹16.18 crore for continued development work.

“The next phases of the Aksharam Museum have been planned to be built on an area of 13,000 sq ft. The second phase will include eight galleries marking the evolutionary history of 35 major scripts across the world, including those of India, the history of Malayalam poetry, the history of prose literature and scientific literature,” he said.

Malayalam poetry

The Malayalam poetry gallery will feature modern and post-modern poetry and works, starting from the folk song tradition and encompassing Sangha literature, ancient Malayalam literature, Manipravalam literature and Venmani poetry, among others.

Another gallery will highlight the Malayalam prose literary tradition, tracing its roots from oral and folk stories to early short stories, novels, drama, autobiographies and biographical literature. The final two galleries will include scientific literature and translation, featuring Malayalam grammar works, notable personalities, dictionaries, other linguistics books and the history of translation literature.

Key attractions

The museum, along with exhibition galleries, includes activity corners, digitisation lab, audio-video studio, children’s park, extensive archival collections, conservation unit, collection of first editions of books, and library complex.

Plans are under way to introduce short-term training programmes in epigraphy, museology, archiving, conservation and printing technology.

The 10,000-square-foot old India Press building will be renovated and transformed into an auditorium and business centre. In the first year since its opening, as many as 7,883 people have visited the museum.

A cultural tour, incorporating school students into the letter tourism circuit, is being organised to connect the historical and heritage sites of Kottayam. The Education department has designated the Aksharam Museum as a recommended site for educational visits as part of the curriculum. Students and researchers from various colleges in Kerala have visited Aksharam Museum for internships and completed them with perfect academic standards.