The Government Museum, Madurai – Great Views of Past History

The Government Museum Madurai is a wonderful tourist place where you get to learn about the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region with some religion thrown into it. It is easily one of the most popular places for tourists in Madurai.

Location

The Government Museum Madurai is located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu and is built inside the Gandhi Memorial Museum. It was established in 1981 during the 5th World Tamil Conference. The museum is neatly divided into various sections to help visitors find their areas of interest quickly and without much effort.

What One Can See Here

The museum is famous for its amazing collections of sculptures, bronzes statues, ancient musical Instruments and paintings. There are numerous specimens from the field of geology, botany and zoology specimens on display here.

Training Programs

The museum also conducts training programs on the globally-renowned Tanjore painting and Batik art. Classes are conducted routinely to impart knowledge to interested visitors and locals about taxidermy and screen printing. The special summer training camps include interesting programs on Tamil music, the popular classical dance form Bharath Natyam and on self-defense sport activities like karate. The museum also conducts classes and training programs on Yoga, glass painting, photography, photography, fabric painting and doll making.

Other Collections

Visitors can also view the famous Amaravati collection which includes fascinating panels and pillars, superbly carved railings and statues of Lord Buddha. The collection includes a white marble Buddhist stupa which was excavated from Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. The museum has a bronze gallery that depicts sculptures from the era of Cholas, Chalukya, Pallava and the Hoysalas.

Information for Visitors

The museum is open from 0930 hrs to 1700 hrs on all days except Fridays and second Saturdays. It remains closed to visitors on all national holidays. They charge an entrance fee of INR 05 for Indian visitors and INR 100 for foreign tourists. You will have to pay extra to take a camera inside.

How to Reach

By Bus

The museum is very near to the main city of Madurai and can be reached by any available local transport like buses, autos or cabs.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is Madurai Junction just two kilometers from the museum.

By Air

The nearest airport is Madurai Airport which is 12 km from the place.