Methan Mani — Attraction in Kerala

Methan Mani is a charming and quirky clock tower tucked beside the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram. Built in the early 1800s during Maharaja Swathi Thirunal's reign and crafted by the artisan Kulathooran, it’s more than just timekeeping—it’s a piece of living heritage .

The unique spectacle unfolds every hour when a bearded man’s wooden figure opens its mouth and two goats strike its cheeks, causing the mouth to snap shut in sync with the chimes . It’s said this iconic design was inspired by a tribute to a valiant warrior who supported Travancore against Tipu Sultan .

Even after centuries, the clock still works well and the hourly clang rings across the surrounding lanes . The mechanism has been upgraded over time but the charm of the moving goats and the man’s jaw remains entirely original .

Look for it above the old fort-style building across from the temple pond. It doesn’t take long to enjoy. Spend around fifteen minutes watching the animation, admiring the wood and masonry, and soaking in its playful yet historic presence.

This clock isn’t just nostalgic—it showcases 19th‑century mechanical creativity and a nod to Kerala’s brave history. It may be small, but it leaves a big smile and a gentle reminder of how time and tradition can...

this temple is ancient. being there and soaking up the energy of a place in which religious worship has been conducted long before chrstianity came into existence has been a wonderful time. we listened to chants for a long time, walked around the temple and just let the energy guide us. a magical place.Visited many temples & done pooja along the way at many auspicious sites. This temple is stunning, with a wonderful layout. Even though we were in Indian attire and knew the protocol, we were "chased out" of the main temple. Taking everything in stride, we were able to appreciate the beauty of the outside, with candles lit along the walls on every side of the temple and many small shrines around the grounds. The sacred cow here is very popular and if you whisper you wish into its left ear, you will be one step closer Hindu pilgrimages are coming here for "Bali Tharpan" in every year for the peace mind and soul.

The beach is fully crowded on early morning of the balitharpan day in every...

Methan Mani is situated on the eastern side of Sree Padmanabha swami temple. It is a historical landmark. To see it one has to stand before the temple entrance and look in the contrary direction of the Padma Teertha Pond. It is on the top of the old Fort palace. This Clock is clearly visible from the street that lead to the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple East Gopuram Entrance.

Methan Mani is installed in 1833 during the reign of Swathi Thirunal, right above the clock face. This is crafted from mahogany by an artesian called Kulathooran. Every time the clock completes an hour, the man opens his mouth and the goats ram his cheeks.

It's amazing how this technology was adopted centuries ago with the clock working continuously ever since then. it is operated by Pully Mechanism, there is a web version of the clock released in 2004 by the Center for Development of Imaging...