Popular Museums in Chennai

Apart from its people, Chennai's unique appreciation of art, architecture, and colonial history is only one of its many wonderful qualities. If you find these kinds of things very fascinating, you can visit a lot of museums. Apart from being repositories of artifacts, museums are also breathtakingly beautiful, with a poignant tale behind each one. To satisfy your desire for history and to learn more about Chennai, we have put together a list of some of the best museums in the city.

Government Museum

The Government Museum, the most important museum in the city, is a vast repository of knowledge. Being one of the oldest museums in Chennai, the museum was founded in 1851. The archaeological remnants, medal collections, and antique coins and currencies from all around India are the museum's principal attractions. It also features galleries on geology, anthropology, zoology, and botany. Open throughout the week, it’s a famous historical sites in chennai and a must-visit destination for anyone seeking to delve into India’s past and present.

Location : Egmore

Address : Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 600008

Contact Number : 044 2819 3238

Timings : 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Entry Fees : Adult-15 Rs, Children-10 Rs, Bonafide Students-5 Rs

Fort Museum, Fort St. George

Discover Chennai's memories in their purest form at the Fort Museum. When it was first built, Madras Bank used it as its operational workspace. It has a number of British coins, actual handwritten letters from Lords Clive and Cornwallis, and military equipment and armor.

Location : Fort St. George

Address : Rajaji Rd, near Legislature and Secretariat, Fort St George, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600009

Contact Number : 044 2567 1127

Timings : 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Entry Fees : 15 rs

Adyar Library and Research Centre

Adyar Library provides you with the best of South India in one convenient location. In addition to a sizable collection of literature on philosophy and religion, it has Bibles from the 19th century and Buddhist scrolls dating back a millennium. It currently houses over 25,000 unique manuscripts written on palm leaves that have been collected from all across China, Sri Lanka, India, and other places.

Location : Adyar

Address : Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600090

Contact Number : 044 2491 3528

Timing : 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Entry Fees : 50 rs

Vivekanandar Illam

In addition to being a wonderful resource for learning about the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda, this location captivates visitors with its distinctive colonial architecture. Before being renamed Vivekananda Illam in 1963, it was an ice house where Swami Vivekananda spent a week in February 1897. The stunning building that faces Marina Beach currently displays Indian culture through paintings, a two-dimensional hologram, and different stages of Swami Vivekananda's life.

Location : Triplicane

Address : Vivekananda House, Kamaraj Salai, Marina Beach Road, Triplicane, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600005

Contact Number : 044 2844 6188

Timings : 10 AM–12:30 PM, 3–7:15 PM

Entry Fees : Adult-20 Rs, Children-10 Rs

Periyar Science and Technology Centre

For those who enjoy science, technology, and astronomy, this location is the holy grail. Dedicated to the memory of the well-known revolutionary leader of South India, Thanthai Periyar, the centre uses functional models to explain a wide range of scientific phenomena. The space has been segmented into many areas, such as the Physical Science Gallery, Life Science Gallery, Transport Gallery, and Energy Gallery, each offering knowledge on a different topic.

Location : Kotturpuram

Address : No., 6, Gandhi Mandapam Rd, Surya Nagar, Kotturpuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600085

Contact Number : 044 2441 0025

Website : www.tnstc.gov.in

Timings : 10:45 AM to 4:30 PM

Entry Fees : 15 to 30 Rs

Regional Rail Museum

The allure of trains and railway stations cannot be replicated, even if aeroplanes are gradually replacing trains. Among other things, the Regional Rail Museum in Chennai has successfully recreated that affection with models of double-decker trains, steam engines, cargo trains, and bogeys. Don't forget to take a pleasant ride on the toy train, which isn't just for kids and will happily carry you around the entire place, when you visit.

Location : Villivakkam

Address : Next to ICF Furnishing Division, New Avadi Rd, Villivakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600038

Contact Number : 044 2614 6306

Website : www.icf.gov.in

Timings : 10 AM to 4:30 PM

Entry Fees : 50 Rs

Dakshinachitra

Dakshinachitra provides a cultural feast featuring artifacts from all the regional states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, showcasing the true essence of South India. In addition to the unique assortment of artworks and artifacts, Dakshinachitra is a village that features models of traditional dwellings and different depictions of traditional tools. Also at the crafts bazaar, it gives artisans a direct marketing platform.

Location : Muthukadu

Address : DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum, SH 49, Muthukadu, Tamil Nadu 603112

Contact Number : 98410 20149

Website : www.dakshinachitra.net

Timings : 10 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fees : 120 Rs

Vintage Camera Museum

For those who love photography, Dr. Arun's Photography & Vintage Camera Museum is a visual delight. The building itself, with its camera-like design, is the first thing that catches our attention. More than 1500 cameras from all over the world are on show at this museum, ranging from large format wooden box cameras to box cameras from the previous century to the famous Kodaks from the early 1990s. For enthusiasts of photography and art, it is a highly valued asset.

Location : Injambakkam

Address : No: 3, East coast Road (ECR), , Kovalam, above Hotel Amirtha, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 603112

Contact Number : 98840 42526

Timings : 9 AM to 8 PM

Entry Fees : 100 Rs

Click Art Museum

Click Art Museum, is a mastery of illusions. You may click as much as you like to take pictures for your Instagram account, plus they have some of the most amazing interactive art pieces on exhibit! Each piece of art has been thoughtfully positioned to maximize its three-dimensional effect and increase your enjoyment.

Location : Injambakkam

Address: 159, 5/108, SH 49, Akkarai, Injambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600115

Contact Number : 89399 33999

Timings : 10 AM to 8 PM

Entry Fees : 150 Rs

Tamil Nadu Police Museum in Chennai

The Tamil Nadu Police Museum in Chennai is a unique place that showcases the history of law enforcement in the state. The museum, which was once the office of the first Police Commissioner of Madras, houses a collection of artifacts from the past 200 years. These include old vehicles, uniforms, and equipment used by the police force. This museum is a symbol of the state's commitment to preserving its history and honoring its law enforcement personnel. It's a must-visit for anyone interested in history and law enforcement.

Location : Egmore

Address : 483, Pantheon Rd, Komaleeswaranpet, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600008

Contact Number : 94981 43468

Timings : 11 AM to 7 PM

Entry Fees : Adult-10 Rs, Children-5 Rs