DakshinaChitra

DakshinaChitra opened in 1996 on the coast road south of Chennai, and its method is unusual: rather than building replicas, the museum acquired houses that were due to be demolished across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, dismantled them with their original timber, tile and stone, transported the material and rebuilt them on site with traditional craftsmen. The result is around eighteen heritage houses grouped by state, from a Chettiar mansion to a Kerala Syrian Christian house to a weaver's cottage. Potters, weavers, basket makers and puppeteers work in the grounds and demonstrate their crafts to visitors.

History

DakshinaChitra, "a picture of the south", was founded by the Madras Craft Foundation, an NGO started in 1984 by Deborah Thiagarajan, who drew on open-air museums such as Old Sturbridge Village and Plimoth Plantation in the United States. It opened to the public on 14 December 1996 (Wikipedia, DakshinaChitra).

What to look for

• The relocated houses - around eighteen buildings moved and rebuilt whole.
• The state groupings - Tamil, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra sections.
• The working craftspeople - potters, weavers and puppeteers on site.
• The furnished interiors - houses fitted with period objects and tools.

When to go

November to February for comfortable weather; the museum is largely outdoors with limited shade. It closes on Tuesdays. Festivals and craft events run through the season.

Things to know

The site is outdoors and hot outside winter. Craft demonstrations depend on which artisans are in residence. Entry is relatively expensive by Indian museum standards.

Nearby

Mamallapuram lies south on the same road; Chennai is north.

Key facts