Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian sub-continent. The Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum is situated at Thaikkattussery, near Ollur in Thrissur, Kerala. It is a part of the Thaikkattussery mana or ancestral house and was opened to the public on 28th December 2013, by former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. 

Through the use of sculptures, portraits, multimedia and 3D technology, the Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum explains the evolution of ayurveda through the years.

Dhanwantari, God of Ayurveda
Housed in a century-old building, the museum is a symbol of Kerala’s rich architectural legacy. It is spread across three blocks – the ‘Acharya Gruham’. There are intricate carvings on the exterior of the building while the interior is carefully and meticulously decorated. 

In front of the main building, stands a huge sculpture of Dhanwantari, the god of ayurveda. Dhanwantari is worshipped as the 'Paradevatha' or the family deity by the Thaikkattu Mooss family. In the nearby Thaikkattussery Durga Bhagavathy temple, where the shrine is dedicated to Goddess Durga, Lord Dhanwantari is worshipped behind the murti or shrine of the Goddess. A temple of this genre is very unique and one of the rarest of its kind.

Legacy of Ayurveda in Kerala
The ayurveda system of healthcare, which dates back to over 5000 years, is, for many in Kerala, a way of life. It is based on the ideology that health and wellness depend on a balance between the mind, body, spirit and the environment.

The Thaikkattu Mooss family of Kerala has been engaged in the practice of ayurveda for ages and has contributed significantly to its development through its Vaidyaratnam group of institutions. Ashtavaidyan Narayanan Mooss (Ashtavaidyan is a traditional ayurveda practitioner proficient in all the eight branches of ayurveda) was conferred the prestigious title of Vaidyaratnam, in the year 1924 by the then Viceroy of British India, Lord Reading. 

The Vaidyaratnam Group has set up educational institutions, research centres and pharmacies. The Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala, the Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College and the Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum, the country’s first ayurveda museum are some of the best known among them. 

Galleries, Library and Multimedia Exhibits
Visitors to the museum can take a tour starting from a digital theatre called ‘Natya gruham’ which screens audio-visual shows and presentations on ayurveda. Galleries in the main building hold presentations on the history of ayurveda from mythological, Vedic, Sahitha, Sangraha and medieval periods. You can watch a diorama (a scenic representation) of the history of ayurveda from the mythological period to modern times; visit a 3-D gallery where you can witness the manufacturing and treatment techniques of ayurvedic medicine and a digital library of palm leaf manuscripts. The museum offers a library of ancient texts used by ‘Ashtavaidyas’.

There is an exclusive section on ‘Sushruta’, considered as the Father of surgery, which highlights the surgical practices of ancient India.

Entry fee:
Adults: Rs. 50 | Student (with ID card from the studying institution): Rs. 20 | Students Group: Rs. 20/student (free tickets for the teachers)