Madras Museum :
 A
Madras museum theatre, located at Egmore the busy place in Chennai,
opened in 1896. Constructed by British in Indo-Saracen style,
during the end of 19th century, the museum theatre is one of
the grand structures. It is housed within the museum complex
together with other distinguished structures like Old Public
Library and the famous National Art Gallery. It is surrounded
by the cannons captured or used by the British during the wars.
This theatre has staged thousands of plays so far. It has
watched stories come to life for more than a century. It
has serviced the strong-minded theatre scene in Madras
by the way of hosting plenty of actors, from simple persons
with mere ambition to those with superb talents, from performers
with a point to prove to clowns just for joke. Centuries of
performances and Chennai's Museum Theatre still seems wonderful.
It has grown old stylishly, with pleasant wrinkles making them
contented with its facade as its walls lightly a relief of sigh. It is worth place to visit
and view some brilliant stage performance.
National Art Gallery A fine
specimen for the Indo-Saracenic style of
architecture, this building is constructed in
red sandstone. Not only the treasures of art
works found inside but also the building itself
is interesting, for it is filled with intricate
carvings. Some of the listed artifacts in the
national art gallery are 16th to 18th century
Mughal paintings, Deccan art of the 17th century
and the displays of bronzes from 10th and 13th
centuries and handicrafts of various periods.
Government Museum, Chennai is a multi-purpose
State Government Museum located in Egmore, which
is the heart of the city, spreading to an area
of 16.25 acres of land. Six independent
buildings in this Museum campus has 46
galleries.
Timings: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m,
Fee: For foreigners $5, Adult Rs 15/- and Children Rs 10/-, School concession Rs 3/-
Holiday: Friday ,Ph: 28193238/ 28193778 ,Fax: 28193035
Children’s Museum is a place of
wonder for children, which takes them from the
land of books to the land of objects. It
encourages a child to probe new horizons. It
directs children into constructive and
worthwhile pastimes. It moulds them into sound
citizens of the future. The Children’s Museum of
the Government Museum, Chennai consists of
Basement, Ground floor and First floor, each
having 5000 sq.ft. area. The architecture of the
Children’s Museum conforms to that of a model
museum building, with all the facilities
contemplated in a modern museum. The display
arrangements in the Children’s Museum reveals to
the children the world in which they live,
arouses intellectual curiosity and opens the
door to the world of wonder. 86, Pantheon Road,
Chennai - 8, Timings : 9 am to 5 p.m. Fee : for
Foreigners $ 5, Adult Rs.15, Children Rs.10
School Concession Rs. 3/-. Holiday : Friday Ph :
28193238, 28193778, Fax : 28193035.
Fort Museum  North of the Secretariat is the Fort Museum,
which was once the Fort office’s mess. It was a bank then.
This is the forerunner of the Madras bank, which later
merged with the Bombay and the Bengal Banks to become
the Imperial Bank and is known as the State Bank of
India. The long room upstairs was the Public Exchange
Hall and the roof built in, 1796, was also the first
lighthouse Chennai. The Museum formally opened in
1948 has a fine collection of original writings
of the men who made Chennai. This museum has an
outstanding collection of early coins, silverware,
porcelain, uniforms, manuscripts, engravings
and aquatints of early Chennai Timing : 9 a.m. to
4.30 p.m. Friday Holiday. Fee Rs. 5/- for
foreigners $ 5. Kamarajar Salai, Fort St.
George, Chennai - 600 009. Ph : 25670854,
25671127
Govt Museum 
A pre-1789 assemblage by the British, called Pantheon
Complex today houses the Government Museum,
Connemara Public Library and the National
Art Gallery. The Museum contains exhibits ranging
from the contemporary artifacts to pre-historical
findings. Sculpture and bronze of various periods,
sections for zoology, anthropology and geology impress
every visitor. Buddhist sculptures found in the Amaravathi
section depict the events recorded in the life of the Buddha.
Address: 489, Pantheon Road, Chennai - 8
Timings: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fee: For foreigners $ 5, Adult Rs. 15/-, Children Rs 10/-, School concession Rs. 3/-
Holiday: Friday
Ph: 28193238, 28193778
Fax: 28193035
Regional Rail Museum
The Regional Rail Museum at Chennai is located amid picturesque,
serene surroundings at ICF Furnishing Division. Tucked away
among the trees, the Regional Rail Museum houses two indoor
galleries and a large open area. The indoor galleries house
various small exhibits, models, photographs and charts
highlighting the development and growth of Railways.
Museum provides ample avenues for any type of visitor.
The visit promises to be a stimulating, exciting
and nostalgic experience for young and old.
It has a few toy trains and few 50 yrs old coaches.
It is located at New Avadi Road. ICF, near ICF bus stand,
Chennai-600 038, Entry fee: Adult Rs. 5/- Child Rs. 3. Holiday: Monday. Timing: 10 am, to 6 p.m. Ph : 26146267.
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