Government Museum of Chennai is located off the
Pantheon Road in the Egmore region and is open from 9.30 am to 5 pm. The
Chennai's Government Museum is closed on Fridays and other public
holidays.
This museum in Chennai is best known for two important collections:
sculptures from Amarvati and its famed Bronze Gallery. The Amaravati
collection has panels, pillars, carved railings and Buddha statues of
Milky white marble from a Buddhist stupa excavated at Amaravati, Andhra
Pradesh. There are bronze sculptures from the later Pallava, Chola,
Hoysala and Chalukya periods.
The Government Museum of Chennai is one of the most popular sightseeing
pots in the city. It is deemed to be one of the oldest museums of India,
as its inception dates back to the Colonial rule.
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There is a historical tale behind the origin of this Museum. In 1846 AD, the
Madras Literary Society debated the proposal of establishing the museum.
Finally, the proposal was approved by the Court of Directors of the East
India Company in London.
The Government Museum of Chennai is one of the most popular sightseeing pots
in the city. It is deemed to be one of the oldest museums of India, as its
inception dates back to the Colonial rule. There is a historical tale behind
the origin of this Museum. In 1846 AD, the Madras Literary Society debated
the proposal of establishing the museum. Finally, the proposal was approved
by the Court of Directors of the East India Company in London. Chennai
Government Museum has a sprawling complex and is sponsored by the State
Government.
There are six independent buildings in the Museum campus, which constitute
46 galleries. The Museum was formally inaugurated on December 5, 1896 by the
Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock, the then Governor. He named it after the former
Governor, Lord Connenmara. The museum was designed by H. Irvin, the
consulting architect of the Government of Madras. The Government Museum has
a splendid hall, marvelous reading room and striking Teak wood shelf and
stands divided into a number of sections.
These sections include those on Geology, Archeology, Zoology, Anthropology,
Numismatics, Botany and Sculpture. Also, there are four galleries in the
museum. They comprise of the Hindu Sculpture Gallery, Bronze Gallery,
Amravathi Gallery and National Art Gallery. Apart from this, the Government
Museum also houses a Children's Museum, which is a special section dedicated
exclusively to Children. The Children's Museum includes three sections,
namely Civilization Gallery, Transportation Gallery and Kids Corner.
Chennai's Government Museum, established in 1857, has sections devoted to
archaeology, anthropology, botany, zoology and sculpture. There are also
exhibits from the Stone and Iron ages, exquisite carvings and a large
collection of South Indian musical instruments and jewellery. The galleries
of the museum house real treasures and are worth a peek. There are 4
galleries in the Government Museum at Chennai which are as follows:
Hindu Sculpture Gallery
* Bronze Gallery
* Amravathi Gallery
* National Art Gallery
The Amaravati collection comprises of panels, pillars, carved railings, the
Buddha statues made up of white marble, remains of the Buddhist stupa that
are excavated from Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh. The Chennai's Government
Museum also has bronze sculptures from the later Pallava, Chola, Hoysala and
Chalukya dynasty.
The Children's Museum inside the Government Museum of Chennai is another
attractive section dedicated to the children. The galleries of Children's
Museum include:
* Civilization Gallery
* Transportation Gallery
* Kids Corner.
This museum in Chennai is best known for two important collections:
sculptures from Amarvati and its famed Bronze Gallery. The Amaravati
collection has panels, pillars, carved railings and Buddha statues of Milky
white marble from a Buddhist stupa excavated at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.
There are bronze sculptures from the later Pallava, Chola, Hoysala and
Chalukya periods.
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