Government Museum, Chennai

The Government Museum is an archaeological institution in Egmore with several buildings housing galleries for bronze sculptures, pottery, ancient coins, and textiles. The rooms are divided into thematic sections where visitors can view objects from different dynasties and periods across South India.

The institution opened in 1851 following a proposal by the Madras Literary Society to preserve collections from the region. It grew into the second oldest museum complex in the country after the Indian Museum in Kolkata.

The name reflects the institution's foundation by the Madras government to preserve and share knowledge across the region. Families and school groups visit to see bronze figures that were cast over centuries as representations of deities worshipped in temples across South India.

The entrance is on Pantheon Road, and the complex is open from Saturday to Thursday between half past nine in the morning and five in the evening. Visitors should plan several hours, as the galleries spread across multiple buildings and need time to explore properly.

The Museum Theatre was built in 1896 and replicates the semicircular layout of the Globe Theatre in London with Indo-Saracenic arches and ornaments. This space is used for performances and cultural events, often surprising visitors who do not expect a theater hall inside a museum.