Government Museum Chennai
The Second Oldest Museum in India and one of the Largest Museums in South Asia
Overview
Founded in 1851, it is the second oldest museum in India, founded after the Indian Museum in Kolkata.
The Museum complex is majestic (reflecting imperial times) and consists of 6 buildings and 46 galleries, covering around 16.25 acres.
A number of Raja Ravi Varma paintings can be found in the museum, in addition to a plethora of art belonging to other talent artists. One can also find interesting artifacts and objects related to archaeology, coins, zoology, sculptures and manuscripts.
The museum complex also includes the National Art Gallery and the Connemara Public Library (with century-old publications).
Interestingly, the museum grounds was the location of the first zoo in Chennai in 1855 before it was moved in 8 years later.
Things to Know before Visiting
It will take one around 4 to 5 hours to walk through and cover the entire museum thoroughly.
Some parts of the museum buildings might require better maintenance. However, this doesn’t dilute the good experience that most people have.
Ticket office might close around an hour before the official museum closing time.
Location
Pantheon Rd, Egmore