Museum Address
              East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Kanchipuram District, Chengalpattu
           
  
  
  
  
  
    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
           
  
  
  
    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.
 
           
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    Workshops/seminars/lectures
              Yes
           
  
  
  
  
    Library and archives services
              Yes
           
  
    IT facilities ( Photocopying, printing, computer )
              Yes
           
  
  
    Conference/ Seminar hall
              Yes
           
  
  
  
  
    Who manages the museum?
              Others
           
  
    Others:
              Madras Craft Foundation
           
  
    Person-in-charge of the museum
              Other
           
  
  
  
    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.
              
           
  
     Is the museum currently closed?
              No
           
  
    Image for museum exterior/building
              
           
  
    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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              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 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