ARCHITECTURE
CULTURAL INSTITUTION - DAKSHINA CHITRA
DakshinaChitra
is a unique Heritage Centre located on the east coast road in Muttukadu
on the way to Mahabalipuram which offers the visitor an unforgettable and
authentic insight into the lifestyles of the diverse peoples of South India.
Traditional craftspersons and folk artists work and perform in the
reconstructed period settings of 19th century streets, homes and workshop-spaces
in the TamilNadu and Kerala sections. These are presently
open to the public.
Enter the TamilNadu section
through a majestic carved wooden doorway of a century-old merchant house
from Chettinad. An exhibition on Tamil culture is on display here.
Proceed to the 150 year old agriculturist house from the fertile
delta region of Thanjavur. Next, see a potter's house from Tiruvallur
with its terracotta exhibition. Step into the humble adobe-and-thatch
huts of the basket-weavers, and on to the shrine of Ayyanar,
the village guardian-deity.
The
weaver's house from Kanchipuram, the famed silk-town of India, is
the next stop. An exhibition hall with displays of TamilNadu
textiles, is annexed to this house. The austere homes of the Brahmins
of Tirunelveli also house the gallery for religious art and craft.
Other exhibits on Tamil culture, folk and classical craft, kitchen utensils,
demonstrations of artisans at work in their traditional environments, also
from part of the experience.
The Kerala section has reconstructions
of domestic architecture in the distinct styles of north and south Kerala:
a 200 year-old wooden Hindu house from Travancore, a Syrian Christian
house from Kottayam, and a double-storeyed Hindu house from
Calicut. These houses also have contextual exhibits displayed in
them.
DakshinaChitra
East Coast Road
Muttukadu
Chingleput District
Pin: 600 118
Ph: 044 - 27472603
044 - 27472783
e-Mail mcfdak@md3.vsnl.net.in
http://www.dakshinachitra.net
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