DakshinaChitra

Museum Address
East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Kanchipuram District, Chengalpattu
City
State
Tamil Nadu
Pin Code
603118
Phone Number
Museum website
www.dakshinachitra.net
Are there any docents or guides who visitors can directly call to book for a guided tour?
Yes
When was the museum established?
1996
Main category
Other categories
Briefly describe the history of the museum, its collection and donors.

DakshinaChitra is a living-history museum, dedicated to South Indian heritage and culture. It is located on the East Coast Road, about 25 kilometres to the south of Chennai. Opened to the public on December 14, 1996, the museum was founded and is being managed by the Madras Craft Foundation (MCF).  

The museum is built on 10 acres of land taken on lease from the Government of Tamil Nadu. Developed as a heritage village, DakshinaChitra has an array of displays depicting the life pattern of Indians in the states of South India. The exhibits portray the living beliefs of art, folk performing arts, craft, and architecture of India, in particular of South Indian traditions. It has over 4,220 artefacts and 1,000,000 pictures, and has recreated 18 heritage houses from the southern states of India.

The houses purchased and redone at DakshinaChitra are those given up by their owners for demolition. They are reconstructed by artisans from the regions from which the particular houses belong.

Photography
Yes
Videography
Yes
Cafeteria
Yes
Museum shop
Yes
Wheelchair friendly
No
Restroom
Yes
Drinking water
Yes
Locker room
Yes
Parking
Yes
Information in Braille
No
Workshops/seminars/lectures
Yes
Garden/picnic area
Yes
Audio/visual guides
No
Guided tours
No
Library and archives services
Yes
IT facilities ( Photocopying, printing, computer )
Yes
Auditorium
No
Conference/ Seminar hall
Yes
Museum membership
No
Conservation lab
Yes
Research lab
Yes
Who manages the museum?
Others
Others:
Madras Craft Foundation
Person-in-charge of the museum
Other
First Name
Deborah
Last Name
Thiagarajan
Reference Link
http://www.dakshinachitra.net/
What is the average duration to see the museum?
half a day
Map your museum’s correct location on the map given below.

12.8226971, 80.2418849

Is the museum currently closed?
No
Image for museum exterior/building
Dolls representing people in a Tamil Nadu house
Gallery Images
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Dolls representing people in a Tamil Nadu house
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A recreated house within DakshinaChitra
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Fortunes read by parrots
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Dolls inside a Brahmin house in DakshinaChitra
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Life-like dolls representing garments worn in rural Tamil Nadu
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A full loom in action within a weaver household
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Girls get their hands decorated with mehendi
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Durga Puja
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Rustic village temple setting recreated
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An array of vessels on display in one of the recreated houses of Karnataka
Entry Fee
Applicable
Entry fee information
Indian adults: ₹100 during weekdays and ₹120 during weekends
Indian children under 12: ₹30.
Indian students between 13 and 18 years of age: ₹50
Foreign nationals: ₹250.
Foreign students: ₹70
Getting there
The museum is located about 200 metres from the MGM Dizzee World bus stop. It can be reached by bus, metered taxi or private vehicles.
Opening Days
Sunday
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Opening Time
10:00 a.m.
Closing Time
06:00 p.m.