| Methan Mani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Trivandrum, Kerala, India |
| Coordinates | 8°28′57.8″N76°56′45.9″E / 8.482722°N 76.946083°E |
| Built | 1833 [1] |
| Architect | Kulathooran [1] |
| Architectural style | Kerala architecture [2] |
  Location of Trivandrum within India  Methan mani (Kerala) | |
Methan Mani is a clock tower [2] which stands next to the Padmanabha Swamy Temple, East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram in the south west Indian state of Kerala. [1] It is a historic landmark and a tourist attraction. [3]
Methan Mani is located adjacent to the eastern entrance of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple complex in the East Fort area of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The structure lies within the historic core of the city and is situated along traditional processional and commercial routes surrounding the temple precincts.
Due to its proximity to the temple and the historic fort area, Methan Mani remains an important geographical and visual landmark within the old city zone of Thiruvananthapuram.
Methan Mani was constructed in 1833 during the reign of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. [4] The clock mechanism was imported from Madras (present-day Chennai) by the Travancore government. Historical records indicate that two similar mechanical clock systems were procured, one installed near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple complex in Thiruvananthapuram and the other at the Padmanabhapuram Palace. [5]
The external structure of the clock tower was made of mahogany wood and is traditionally attributed to a local artisan named Kulathooran. The clock functioned as a public timekeeping device for the temple administration and surrounding areas during a period when individual timekeeping devices were uncommon.
Some later local narratives have attempted to associate Methan Mani with Travancore’s military conflicts of the late 18th century, including encounters involving Tipu Sultan. However, no reliable historical sources establish a direct connection between the construction of the clock tower and any specific military event or commemoration.
The clock works perfectly, and strikes each hour in a day. The Methan Mani remains a popular landmark in the city with the chimes audible around the locality. There was a web version of the clock released in 2004 by the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-Dit), which is offline currently.
