Government Museum, Vellore
| Place | Vellore |
|---|---|
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Virtual Museum | No |
| Year of Establishment | 1982 |
| Museum Type | Multipurpose / Archaeological Museum |
| National Importance Museum | No |
| Address | Balaji Nagar, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004 |
| Visiting Time | 09:30 AM – 06:30 PM (Saturday–Thursday) Closed on Fridays and second Saturdays. |
| Entry Fee | ₹10 (Indian Adults) ₹5 (Children/Students) ₹100 (Foreign Nationals). Camera: ₹20 Video: ₹100 |
Museum Introduction
Established in 1985 as the sixth district museum of Tamil Nadu, the Government Museum is uniquely located within the historic Vellore Fort (inside the Lakshmanaswami Town Hall). It was founded to showcase the rich archaeological and cultural heritage of the erstwhile North Arcot District (now comprising Vellore and Tiruvannamalai). The museum greets visitors with a striking 16-foot life-size fiberglass model of a Tyrannosaurus at its entrance.
General Collections
The museum houses approximately 2,896 exhibits distributed across eight galleries: Stone Sculpture, Bronze, Pre-history & Philately, Art, Natural Science, Numismatics, Anthropology, and an Introductory Gallery. The collection spans human history from the Paleolithic era to modern contemporary art, featuring significant contributions from the Pallava, Chola, and Vijayanagara dynasties.
Unique Historical Collections
Sri Vikrama Rajasinha’s Antiquities: A rare collection of personal items belonging to the last Tamil king of Kandy (Sri Lanka), who was imprisoned in Vellore Fort, including a red-and-white ivory chessboard. Arumballur Jain Bronzes: A significant set of South Indian Jain bronzes acquired through treasure-troves. Bronze Double Antenna: A rare artifact datable to 400 BCE. Sculpture Garden: An outdoor display of 18th-century cannons unearthed from the fort, hero stones, and ancient inscriptions.
Additional Information
| Video URL | GovtMuseumChennai |
|---|---|
| Archaeological Survey of India | No |
| Notes | The museum is situated within the Vellore Fort complex, which also houses the Jalakandeswarar Temple and St. John's Church. It is distinct from the ASI Museum also located within the fort (in the Badhusha and Begum Mahals). Photography is generally permitted for a nominal fee. |
| Artifacts | 16th-century Green stone Vishnu from Narasinghanallur; Ivory boomerang used for warfare; 10th-century Chola stone sculptures; Swords of the Arani Jagirdar; Karigiri glazed pottery; Tribal objects from the Kattunaickkan and Irula communities; 18th-century cannons. |
| Highly Descriptive | Yes |
| Contact Details |
+91 416 222 2351 +91 44 2819 3238 |
| Email ID | velloremuseum@gmail.com |