Methan mani, Historic clock tower near Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, India.
Methan Mani is a clock tower located beside the Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, constructed with a mahogany structure and crowned by mechanical figures. The top features a bearded figure flanked by two rams, forming the core of its automated design.
The tower was installed in the 1840s during the reign of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, a period of modernization in Travancore. The construction reflected the region's embrace of mechanical innovation and technical advancement during that era.
The clock's design merges local craftsmanship with a unique mechanical performance that draws visitors daily. The bearded figure and the rams reflect artistic choices that remain distinctive to this region.
The tower stands at the entrance of Padmanabha Swamy Temple, opposite the Padmatheertha pond in the East Fort area. Visitors can observe the mechanical performance hourly from the front, with the best views available during temple opening hours.
At each hour, the bearded figure's mouth opens while two mechanical rams strike his cheeks from either side, accompanied by chime sounds. This spectacle has repeated for over 180 years and remains a rare example of automaton mechanics in South Asia.
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