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Fast Facts of Government Museum in Chennai: Address: Pantheon Road,
Egmore,
Chennai - 600 008.
Tamil Nadu,
India. Telephone Number: +91-44-2819 3238 (General) +91-44-2819 3778 (Director of Museums) E-Mail: govtmuse@md4.vsnl.net.in
Nearest Railway Station: Egmore Railway Station Nearest Airport: Meenambakkam Air Port Opening Hours: from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed: Fridays and national holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanthi) Admission fee: Yes
Amongst the museums in Chennai, the government museum holds special significance. The Madras government museum was established in January, 1851. The Government Museum in Chennai also known as the Central Museum was built in the College of Fort St. George, in the of the present office of the Director of Public Instruction, on College Road. The Public Library was introduces in 1853 AD. It was unveiled before the public in June 1862 AD. The official opening took place on December 5, 1896 AD by Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock, the then Governor of Madras. The centenary celebrations of the Government Museum in Chennai were held on November 27, 1951 with Jawaharlal Nehru as the honorable guest.
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.
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