The Government Museum was established in the year 1857 and has the country’s best collection of South Indian bronzes, both ancient and modern. Among which beautiful bronze icons of Nataraja, Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman.
About Government Museum :
The Government Museum, located on Pantheon Road of Egmore, is considered as the oldest Museum in India. Known also as Central Museum, Government Museum was built in 1851 in the College of Fort St. George. The Public Library was added in 1853 and the Museum was opened in 1896.
Government Museum constitutes of six buildings and they house 46 galleries. The six sections of Government Museum are Main Building, Front Building, Bronze Gallery, Children’s Museum, National Art Gallery and Contemporary Art Gallery.
Archaeology, Zoology, Botany, Geology and Numismatics are the galleries within the Main Building. Anthropology and Archaeology galleries are situated in the Front Building. National Art Gallery constitutes Tanjore Painting Gallery, Decorative Art Gallery, Indian Traditional Art Gallery and Ravi Varma Painting Gallery.
Bronze gallery consists of Archaeology, Numismatics and Chemical Conservation galleries. Children’s Museum consists of Dolls Gallery, Civilisation Gallery, Science Gallery, Transportation Gallery, Technology Gallery and Kids Corner.
Contemporary Art Gallery consists of Handicrafts of Tamil Nadu, Raja Ravi Varma Gallery, British Portraits Gallery, Modern Art Gallery, the Rock and Cave Art Gallery and the Hollographic Gallery.
Attractions Of Government Museum In Cheenai :
Government Museum, also known as Madras Museum, is situated at Egmore, one of the busiest areas in Chennai. Founded in 1851, it exhibits various specimens pertaining to zoology, botany, anthropology and geology. The museum has a fine archaeological section representing all the major south Indian periods including Chola, Vijayangar, Hoysla and Chalukyas. The bronze image of Ardhnariswara (Shiva and Parvathy) is an eye-catching one. The museum also has separate sections for philately and children. It also houses a good ethnology collection. Informative lectures and film shows are conducted occasionally. The museum has a well-stocked library.
Features of the Government Museum in Chennai :
- The Museum comprises of various galleries. The major galleries are the Main Building, Front Building, Bronze Gallery, Children’s Gallery, National Art Gallery and Contemporary Art Gallery.
- The gallery sections in the main building are archaeology, zoology, botany, geology and numismatics.
- Anthropology and archaeology galleries are located in the front building.
- The Bronze gallery consists of sections on archaeology, numismatics and chemical observation.
- The children’s museum displays exhibits on civilization and has a Kids Corner, costume dolls gallery and sections on Science, Transportation and Technology.
- The National art gallery features Indian Traditional Paintings, Indian Miniature Paintings, Tanjore Paintings and Other Indian Traditional Paintings.
- The Contemporary art gallery consists of British Paintings and Modern Paintings.
- The major features of the museum are the world famous South Indian bronzes, Amaravati sculptures, 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, artifacts from the Megaliths of Adichanallur, the Bruce Foote Collection of prehistoric stone implements, Roman and other artifacts from the famous site of Arikamedu (near Pondicherry), the exquisite crystal reliquaries from the Bhattiprolu Stupa and the huge skeleton of the whale found on a shore near Mangalore.
Overview Government Museum In Cheenai :
The Government Museum was initially housed in the College of Fort St. George. In the same era an elite British group, by the name of Pantheon Committee, was working to improve the social life of expatriates in the city. To carry out their mission the Pantheon group constructed a group of buildings. These buildings were spread over an area of about 16.25 acres. The Government Museum expanded vigorously and needed a new place. It was year 1851 when the museum was moved into the buildings constructed by the committee. The museum, at present, consists of a number of sections holding some rare collections throughout the continent.
Bronze Gallery Government Museum :
There are over 1,500 bronze figures with impeccable carving: the Buddha, Jain gods, and specimens of Hindu gods, goddesses and devotees. The most prominent of these are the Nataraja sculptures dating back to the 11th century. Time has surprisingly not done much damage to the artifacts.
Recovered from a range of locations in South India like Guntur, Amaravathi and Mysore, these timeless beauties reflect different styles of art and illustrate the transition from traditional to conventional fine art. It has an entire building devoted to the bronze figures displayed on specially-made wooden counters with halogen lamp lighting. Art enthusiasts can get more information through audio visual aids and brochures listing details of the statues.
The Museum Theatre In Government Museum :
The Museum Theatre has played host to plays and performances in the city for the past 100 odd years. Every Chennaiite has spent many a wonderful evening here. Today, the paint on the walls is chipping off and the seats smell musty but the magnanimous theatre boasts of a façade that imparts almost a royal feel to the place.
The Children’s Museum :
A treat for every child’s imagination, it has fountains, wind mills, dinosaurs and everything else that can fascinates a kid. My earliest memory of the museum was that of exploring the children’s section as a 6-year old with starry wide eyes. I got so carried away by the unique place that I strayed away from my parents and got lost!
Zoology section Government Museum :
The Baleen Whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling in the Zoology section is enormous! It measures over 60 feet in length and was found in Mangalore. Child or adult, everyone tends to gape at the skeleton in awe.
History Of Government Museum In Cheenai :
The proposal for a museum was mooted by the Madras Literary Society in 1846 AD and Sir Henry Pottinger, the then Governor, obtained the sanction of the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London.
In January 1851 AD, Dr. Edward Balfour, Medical Officer of the Governor’s Bodyguard was appointed First Officer in charge of the museum. The notification in the Fort St. George Gazetteer dated April 29, 1851 A.D. contained the first announcement regarding the opening of the museum.
Museum authorities said the artefacts institution aimed at offering unparalleled opportunities to the visitors for exploration and learning on diverse fields of Arts and Science. Students and scholars can benefit from the good collection of reserve materials available in addition to the exhibited materials for research and study, they added.
Location Government Museum :
Government Museum of Chennai lies off the Pantheon Road in the Egmore region of the city suburbs. The museum is one of the prime attractions in the city. It is one of the first government sponsored museum in Indian sub continent. The museum is one great tourist destination in the state of Tamil Nadu, besides popular temples and monuments.
Timing :
9.30 am – 5 pm (Closed on Friday and National Holidays)
Admission Fees :
INR 15 (Adults/Indian)
INR 10 (Children/Indian)
INR 250 (Adults/Foreigners)
INR 125 (Children/ Foreigners)