Pondicherry Museum, Puducherry

Pondicherry Museum, Puducherry

Pondicherry Museum is an art and history museum located at St. Louis Street in White Town Area of Puducherry Town in Union Territory of Puducherry. The Pondicherry museum was established in 1983. The Museum is located close to the Bharathi Park and Raj Niwas.

The Museum

The museum is located in the former Law Building. The museum had two levels - ground floor and first floor. The Museum has a gallery with sculptures and has the remains of archaeological findings from the Arikamedu Roman settlement. The museum also has a collection of rare bronzes and stone sculptures from the Pallava and Chola dynasties. The Museum's collection includes 81 Chola bronze sculptures, ranking as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes.

The Foyer and Courtyard have various stone statues and a fossilized tree trunk. On the ground floor, the major attraction is the central space with 3 curious transport mechanisms - a coach, a palanquin (sedan chair) and a pousse-pousse (an earlier version of the rickshaw) which required two attendants, one to steer and one to push. The bronze gallery displays the images of gods and goddesses together with a wide collection of temple lamps used across different dynasties down the centuries.

Pre-Christian relics such as remnants of Greek and Roman jars, pieces from the Tsung Periods in China and beads made from glass and precious stones were dug out from the Arikamedu site, just south of Puducherry. The museum also has a Geology room, a shell and fossil room. Being a French colony in the past, the museum also has some French period furniture, paintings, mirrors, porcelain, lamps, crockery and cutlery. The entry fee is 10 Rs for adults & 5 Rs for children (Indian) and 50 Rs for foreigners.

Timings

·        Opening Time: 10:00 AM

·        Closing Time: 05:00 PM

·        Open on all days except Mondays and National holidays

Contact

Pondicherry Museum,

Saint Louis Street, (Near Raj Nivas),

Puducherry – 605 001

Phone: +91 413 233 6203 / 234 9716

Web: art.puducherry.gov.in/museum.html

Connectivity

The Museum is located close to the Bharathi Park and Raj Niwas. The Museum is located at about 500 meters from Aurobindo Ashram Bus Stop, 3 Kms from Puducherry Main Bus Stand, 2 Kms from Puducherry Railway Station, 6 Kms from Puducherry Airport and 150 Kms from Chennai Airport. The Museum is situated on Pondicherry Bus Stand to JIPMER (Gorimedu) Bus Route. Tourists can get down at Aurobindo Ashram Bus Stop. The Museum is located at a walkable distance from this Bus Stop. Taxis and Autos are also available to reach this Museum from any part of Puducherry. Nearest Railway Station is located at Puducherry. Nearest Airport is located at Puducherry and Chennai.

Location