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
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
