Dakshinachitra heritage museum

• Home • What We Do • How It Started • Board of Directors • Exhibitions and Events • Programs • Activities • Events • Exhibitions • Utsavam • Learn • Teachers Workshop • Workshops • Seminars/Publications • Student Volunteers • Certification course • Internship • Join & Support • CSR/Collaborations • Friends of Dakshinachitra • Donors • Volunteers • Careers • Team • Plan your visit • Visit/Contact • Contact Us • • • Facilities • Reception Center/Orientation Film • Restaurant • Guest House • library/Archives • Open Air Theatre • Conservation Lab • Ceramic Center • Craft Shop & Crafts Bazaar • Seminar Hall • Spaces Available for Events DakshinaChitra is an exciting cross cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India. The main mission is to exhibit, promote and preserve aspects of the broader, more inclusive cultures of the states and to bring these arts to the public in a participative, enjoyable and engaging way. DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum , a project of Madras Craft Foundation an NGO was opened to the public on December 14th 1996. The Museum is located overlooking the Bay of Bengal, at Muttukadu, twenty five kilometers south of Central Chennai, on the East Coast Road to Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. DakshinaChitra has a collection of 18 authentic historical houses with contextual exhibitions in each house. All the houses bought and reconstructed at DakshinaChitra had been given for demolition by their owners. The a...

If you did your schooling in Chennai, there is a good chance that you have already visited DakshinaChitra. The two-decade-old museum is one of the top excursion spots for kids, and quite predictably, “out of the two lakh footfalls per year, 50,000 are children” — a statistic that Deborah Thiagarajan, founder of the museum, is quite proud of. This way, Thiagarajan and her team believe, the awareness about traditional culture and architecture is being fed at the grass-root level. And unarguably so. It’s a dry class of history made interesting. Each house is a reflection of the culture of a community and geography of a region. For instance, inside a Silk Weaver’s House, that the museum uprooted from Reddy Pattai Street, Chinna Kanchipuram, to Muttukadu, one finds a large loom instead of conventional furniture. Apparently, the silk weavers did not separate their professional and personal lives, and when they had to host a function at their house, they would simply move the loom to a different room. Drenched in history A few feet away are the Potter’s House from Chengalpet, built using mud and reed; and a Coastal Andhra House, known as Chutillu or ‘round house’, made out of strong cob walls that keep the raging winds at bay. Walk into the Syrian Christian House from Puthuppally, Kottayam District, Kerala, and suddenly, the architecture is vastly different. There is a long verandah, steeped roof, lots of underground storage area, granary and fine wood craft. Unlike the weaver’s ...

If you're a history buff or simply love exploring new cultures, a visit to the DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum in Chennai, India is an experience you don't want to miss. This open-air museum showcases the traditional lifestyles and crafts of the four southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Here's everything you need to know about this unique cultural destination. What is DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum? DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum is a living museum that brings the heritage and culture of South India to life. The museum was founded in 1996 by Deborah Thiagarajan, a Chennai-based cultural activist, and is spread across 10 acres of land. The museum has recreated 18th and 19th-century South Indian villages with houses, streets, and craftsmen's workshops, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region. Exhibits at DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum The exhibits at DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum include houses, streets, and shops that are typical of South Indian villages. The houses are constructed using traditional materials like wood, mud, and thatch, and are designed to reflect the unique architectural styles of each state. Visitors can see craftsmen at work in their workshops, where they demonstrate traditional crafts like pottery, weaving, and blacksmithing. The museum also has a collection of traditional South Indian artifacts like jewelry, textiles, and household items. Highlights of DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum One of the highlig...

A unique concept of bringing South India’s cultural traditions all under one roof, Dakshin Chitra is a little out of the city (25 kilometers) but certainly worth your while. Dakshin Chitra actually means "picture of the south" and that’s exactly what you should expect to see. Educational and fun at the same time, this is a center for a complete orientation to Southern India’s four states. You can experience the living traditions, performing arts, music, crafts and architecture on the 10-acre spread. The earthy feel of the structure and its surroundings transport visitors into the cultural milieu. Dakshin Chitra is great for both children and adults as you can try your hand at glass blowing, pottery and traditional games. Absolutely authentic and wonderful place to see. Must see in my eyes. So fascinating how close different religions and ethnic groups embossed this country through the centuries. Wonderful art and crafts work can be seen. And lucky me I visited on a holiday so they had many attractions to see. And even the market of artist who are coming from outside to sell their products. It was absolutely amazing Jan 24 visited Dakshi Chitra with a foreign national relative. 1.Tickets are differently priced -why they are charging more for a foreign national . Is it racism or discrimination or scam? 2. Not a single artisan was there, nothing to see. At least at ticket counter artisan unavailability should be told so we can make decision about visiting or no Dakshin Chitra...

The Centre for Memory Studies (CMS) of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, will present MemoryBytes, a month-long exhibition on Anglo-Indian history which begins on December 28, 2021 and will end on January 31, 2023, at DakshinaChitra The DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum is jointly presenting the exhibition that has been conceived and curated by Merin Simi Raj and Avishek Parui, associate professors and CMS faculty coordinators. The first phygital exhibition on Anglo-Indians in Asia will bring together theoretical components and content from memory studies, history and digital humanities. An augmented reality based mobile app captures the 500 years of the history of the Anglo Indian community. The exhibition inauguration also marks the formal collaboration between the CMS and DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum. The creation of MemoryBytes, the first app on Anglo-Indian experiences and identities, will offer an innovative and original intervention on how history and memory may be reconstructed and relived in today’s digital world, said Mr. Parui. He also added that the research aimed to make history dynamic, digital and interactive in classrooms, research centres and in public discourses. Ms. Raj said MemoryBytes “is an extension of the ongoing work on organisational memory, heritage and technology.” DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum, envisioned by Deborah Thiagarajan and the Madras Craft Foundation, is celebrating its 25 th year.

Location within Tamil Nadu Established 14December 1996 (26 years ago) ( 1996-12-14) Location 12°49′21″N 80°14′35″E / 12.822423°N 80.243098°E / 12.822423; 80.243098 Type Collection size 4,220 artefacts and 1,000,000 pictures Founder Madras Craft Foundation Curator Deborah Thiagarajan Architect Website DakshinaChitra ("a picture of the south") is a Developed as a heritage village, DakshinaChitra has an array of displays and relocated originals of History [ ] DakshinaChitra, meaning "a picture of the south", The roots of this museum can be traced back to the open-air museums of Europe, the United States, Japan and Southeast Asia, though its closest precursor is . Design [ ] The museum's master plan was developed by Kuriakose, retained the main "spatial types and syntax", but altered the layout of master plan. Collection [ ] Architecture [ ] The complex brings together old buildings that have been transplanted from other sites, to give an idea of vernacular architecture and forms of community living from southern states namely Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, The museum has 18 heritage houses representing the living styles of people from the states. The original houses in their "vernacular style" were purchased by MCF and were recreated by a team of stapathis (temple architects). The dismantled elements were transported to the museum site and recreated at the allotted space in their exact original form. Apart from recreating the homes, the roads and all other features that existed ...

On the outskirts of Mamallapuram lies the DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum, a one-of-its-kind rarity in India. The museum was set up in 1996 for the promotion of the rich cultural heritage of South India, especially its art and crafts forms, through regular exhibitions, hands-on classes for the visitors, workshops on folk performances and textiles and performances by budding artists, dancers, sculptors, etc. Tourists can visit the crafts bazaar where artisans, craftsmen and NGOs from all over India hold beautiful exhibitions. DakshinaChitra is an amalgamation of art, craft, lifestyle, culture, architecture and performing arts of South India. It has 18 historic houses with exhibitions in each one. Tourists should also look out for the striking houses that are a treat for architecture buffs. Read More India has a myriad of landscapes, great heritage and culture, varied flora and fauna. The country is the most preferred tourist destinations for tourists from all across the world for its picturesque landscapes, spectacular waterfalls, habitat of the country's largest tiger reserve and home to the warmest people on earth.

When I stepped inside, I was amazed since it took me to a past age. I saw a beautiful south Indian traditional courtyard with some mud crafts displayed in the center. It looks very colorful and stopped me from moving forward. It was built with rock pillars and brick walls, with some vintage paintings over the wall. Due to its south Indian heritage, we could learn more about our ancestors’ lifestyle, living habitat, work culture, food, dressings, etc. There were separate housing units built for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, which look quite real. People may be mesmerized whether it is a set or a genuine one. Apart from all, they provide Tamilnadu Folkforms certified courses like Thappaattam, Oyilaattam, Devarattam, Silambattam, Mayilattam, Poikaal Kuthiraiattam, and Karagattm. The persons, who are trained here receive individual certifications for their skills. Every month, they host new workshops to better educate their pupils. Please Share This Share this content • Opens in a new window Twitter • Opens in a new window Facebook • Opens in a new window Google+ • Opens in a new window Pinterest • Opens in a new window LinkedIn • Opens in a new window Viber • Opens in a new window VK • Opens in a new window Reddit • Opens in a new window Tumblr • Opens in a new window Viadeo • Opens in a new window WhatsApp You Might Also Like