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A memorable journey into the old world
At a time when oral retelling of history has become a forgotten art, museums have become our treasure trove of everything to do with our history, tradition and legacy; particularly in this season when children and parents on vacation flock to the various museums.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
How many of us know that the Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai, one of the earliest in the country, is housed at the summer palace of Rani Mangammal of the Nayak dynasty (1670 AD) or about the non-replicable unique bronze icons of the Chola dynasty at the Government Museum, Chennai, or about the exclusive museum for Indian Railways and sea shells?
“We are in the process of developing a mobile app which will have all information pertaining to museums in the state. It will be launched shortly. Lot of landscaping work is also going on in Chennai Museum. We are also in the process of constructing an amphitheatre,” says Kavitha Ramu, Director of Museums, Tamil Nadu.
Museums are no longer a place for one-way communication as they have become more interactive now. “Our basic idea is to make it more interactive. In foreign countries, museums are places of study and they give a lot of value attracting more school children. We have done virtual reality and augmented reality in a few of our galleries and they are under testing stage. Work on the floor projection mapping in the children’s gallery is also on. A video wall for public interaction will come up at the interpretation centre. All these works are being done to make the learning experience more sophisticated for people, especially school children,” she says. Under the Accessibility India campaign, installation of lifts and ramps to facilitate easy access for the differently-abled people are being done, she adds.
With 80:20 Central and State government funding, upgradation of four district museums in Pudukkottai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchy and Udhagamandalam is going on. In an attempt to provide people from remote areas a chance to experience a museum, the department has commissioned a mobile museum which will visit schools in remote areas on request. Curators of the respective district museum in association with the local education department officials will place the request.
Museum visits must be made compulsory for school students and should also be part of popular culture so that the future generations get to know about our illustrious history that has bequeathed us with numerous artefacts.
Some of Tamil Nadu's interesting museums and what makes them unique
Gandhi Memorial Museum
The Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai has been set up by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. In 1955, the State government gifted the Rani Mangammal summer palace, with about 13 acres of land, to the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi for the purpose of housing the museum. It was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru on April 15, 1959.
Location: Madurai
What to look for: 'The Hall of Relics' where some of Gandhiji's personal belongings (original and replicas) are preserved. Among the exhibits at the museum is a part of the blood-stained garment worn by Gandhiji when he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. Other exhibits in the museum include an original letter written personally by Gandhiji to Narayanan Sathsangi of Devakottai. A congratulatory message sent by Gandhiji to freedom fighter and poet Subramania Bharati is also preserved in this museum. Yet another interesting letter is the one written by Mahatma Gandhi to Adolf Hitler addressing him as ‘Dear Friend’.
Timings: Open on all days, except Fridays, from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.45pm
Entry Fee: Free entry
Phone: 0452 2531060, 2522822
Mayapuri Wonder Wax Museum
One of the unique wax museums in the country with replicas of acclaimed personalities like Dr Manmohan Singh, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Amitabh Bachchan, Michael Jackson, Shahrukh Khan, Rajinikanth, Jackie Chan and many others. Located at the Baywatch Amusement Park, it also houses a 3D art gallery, 9D theatre and a VR adventure for a more immersive experience.
Location: Kanniyakumari
What to look for: Wax replicas of personalities, 3D drawings that appear to jump right off and a 9D theatre.
Timings: Open on all days from 8am to 8pm
Entry fee: Rs 100
per person
Phone no: 0465 2247477
Shenbaganur Museum of Natural History
Located at the Sacred Heart College in Kodaikanal, the museum reflects the traditional heritage and cultural ancestry of the region. This museum has a taxidermy section housing a wide collection of over 500 rare and endangered species of animals, birds and insects and a living collection of 300 orchid species. It would be good learning experience for the kids. It also houses a herbarium with a garden
Location: Kodaikanal
What to look for: Numerous specimens of butterflies, moths, snakes and mammals.
Timings: Open on all days from 10am to 11.30am and 3pm to 5pm
Entry fee: Rs 5 per person
Phone no: 0454 2241201
India Seashell Museum
It is one of the largest seashell museums in the country and is located in Mahabalipuram. It has more than 40,000 specimen of rare and unique seashells, that offer visitors a unique perspective on conchology, fossils, shark teeth and whale fins. It also has an aquarium and a shopping bazaar
Location: Mahabalipuram
What to look for: 40,000 specimen of rare and unique seashells, fossils, shark teeth and whale fins
Timings: Open on all days from 8am to 8pm
Entry fee: Rs 50 per person
Phone: 044 2744 2205
Government Museum, Chennai
Opened in 1851, the Government Museum in Chennai is the second oldest multipurpose museum in the country, after the Indian Museum in Kolkata, which was opened in 1814. Within the red-brick colonnaded halls of this museum, is showcased the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside of Europe. The museum also has an impressive collection of over a thousand non-replicable South Indian bronzes. There are 40,000 artefacts on display on 1.2 lakh sq.ft. area.
Location: Egmore, Chennai
What to look for: World renowned bronze icons of Chola dynasty. Metal composition of Chola bronze icons still a mystery to metallurgy experts. Popular Amaravati sculptures that depict Buddhist Jataka stories. Tanjore (Thanjavur) armoury, inscriptions on stones and copper plates, the Dowleshwaram hoard of gold coins of Raja Raja I and Kulothunga I, the Chengam hoard of copper coins, artefacts from the Megaliths of Adichanallur, the Bruce Foote Collection of prehistoric stone implements, Roman and other artefacts from the famous site of Arikkamedu (near Pondicherry), the exquisite crystal reliquaries from the Bhattiprolu Stupa.
Timings: Open on all days except Fridays from 9.30am to 5pm
Entry fee: Rs 15 per person
Phone: 044 28193238
Dr A P J Abdul Kalam House (Mission of Life Gallery)
Located on the Mosque Street in Rameswaram, former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam’s house has been converted into a museum, where one gets to know about his life from his childhood and early days as a research scientist to a politician through photographs, artefacts, literary and research works. Housed in a two-storeyed building, the museum displays the awards and various pictures of Dr Kalam. The first floor has been transformed into a museum while the second floor houses an art gallery.
Location: Rameswaram
What to look for: Impressive collection of photographs of the ‘Missile’ man and his literary works.
Timings: All days from 8am to 7pm
Entry fee: Free
Phone no: 0457 3221100
Gedee Car Museum
Established in 2015 by G D Gopal in memory of his father G D Naidu, an eminent industrialist, who had a great passion for automobiles. G D Naidu visited several countries and was fascinated by the workmanship and engineering capabilities of Germany. After visiting the United Kingdom, he was full praise for the Rolls Royce 20 car. He even stripped the original body of the Rolls Royce as he found it difficult to bend down each time to explain the parts under the chassis to the students of his automobile institute. Gopal continued his father’s legacy by maintaining most of the cars in motorable condition
Location: Coimbatore
What to look for: Vintage cars section housing 1949 Mercedes Benz 170S among other impressive collection of vehicles and the science museum.
Timings: Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm; Sunday (10 am to 6 pm). Closed on Mondays.
Entry Fee: Rs 75 per person
Phone: 0422 2222548
Chennai Rail Museum
A museum where you can touch and feel the objects. Walk into the bogies, feel the seats and upholstery, explore interesting themes, fabulous designs and colourful landscapes. A delightful collection of India’s rail heritage is on offer at the museum.
Location: ICF, Perambur
What to look for: Take a ride in toy train that passes through a park full of erstwhile coaches.
Timings: Open on all days from 10am to 5.30pm except Mondays
Entry fee: Rs 40 per person
Phone: 044 26201014/ 26246593/26246306
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