Varanasi/Chennai: DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum, located at Muttukadu on Chennai’s East Coast Road, offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience South India’s art, architecture, lifestyle, crafts and performing traditions in a living form.Established by the Madras Craft Foundation, an NGO, the museum opened to the public on December 14, 1996. Situated about 25 km south of central Chennai on the road to Mamallapuram, DakshinaChitra overlooks the Bay of Bengal and has become an important cultural destination for tourists, students, researchers and heritage enthusiasts.The name “DakshinaChitra” means “a picture of the South”. Spread across nearly 10 acres, the museum was created to preserve and promote the diverse cultural traditions of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana.A group of journalists recently visited the museum during a tour organised by PIB Varanasi. One of the main attractions of DakshinaChitra is its collection of 18 authentic heritage houses. These traditional homes were originally marked for demolition by their owners. The museum carefully purchased them, dismantled each structure, transported the components and reconstructed them on its campus with the help of skilled regional artisans known as Stapathis. Each house features contextual exhibitions that reflect the lifestyle, customs and architecture of its region.The Tamil Nadu section includes the Merchant House, Brahmin House, Silk Weavers House, Agricultural House and Potters House. The Kerala section features the Syrian Christian House, two Hindu Houses and a Granary. The Karnataka section includes the Chikmagalur House and the Ilkal Weavers House, while the Andhra Pradesh section showcases the Coastal Andhra House and the Ikat House.Museum Director Sharath Nambiar said DakshinaChitra is not only a tourist destination but also an important research centre for South Indian culture. He expressed gratitude to the Central Government and the Ministry of Culture for their support in developing the museum’s modern research library.“This library is an invaluable resource for students and researchers studying art, crafts, folk traditions and architecture,” he said.Nambiar added that government support has helped promote heritage tourism and bring wider recognition to South India’s cultural legacy.DakshinaChitra also serves as a living centre for traditional crafts. Artisans from different states demonstrate skills such as pottery, glass blowing, silk and cotton sari weaving, stone carving and wood carving. Visitors, especially children and young people, can also participate in craft activities and gain hands-on experience.On weekends, the museum hosts folk music and dance performances, helping sustain several traditional art forms.By preserving historic homes, supporting artisans and promoting cultural education, DakshinaChitra has become a bridge between the past and the present. It also strengthens cultural exchange between different regions of India and reflects the spirit of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” by celebrating the country’s diversity and unity.
