Tamil Sangam Culture & Heritage Museum, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A huge museum spread across 37327sqm with a Built up Area of 22467sqm is established at Tamukkam ground, Madurai to exhibit the rich Culture and Heritage of the Tamil people and culture, and the history of it through the course of time There are four galleries dedicated to display the culture rich history of the Sangam period and also the heritage of it. The varied culture, tradition, practices of the people who inhabited various ecological environments like Kurinji (hilly region), Mullai (jungle & forest region), Marudham (Pasture lands and valleys), Neidhal (coastal region) and Palai (parch land or desert region). Tamil literature has various poems and stories that explains about their livelihood. Each geographical landscape are described by their own types of trees, flora and fauna, food and the people’s livelihood. The first Gallery displays the before said landscapes with life size models. There were almost six Dynasties that ruled over Tamil Nadu in the past. Out of them, there were three dynasties whose contribution to the Tamil Land and Tamil language are significant. This is exhibited in gallery 2 with three different levels dedicated to each Dynasty will be stablished. It's going to go a long way in teaching as well as explaining culture rather than just reading about it. All of these can now be explored in a 12- dimensional virtual reality space. It's going to look and sound like a true encounter. This marks the purpose of the third Gallery. The last gallery displays as many as 120 oil paintings and 230 exhibits, and numerous findings and artefacts excavated in the Keezhadi excavation site, which is situated around 40km away from Madurai. Apart from this, there are two big temporary exhibition space provided. Literary conferences and cultural study with the involvement of specialists from all around the world are taking place here. The museum is intended to help reach out to as many individuals as it possibly can. The site as a few existing structures along the edge, which is retrofitted with functions such as small eateries and art & craft haat to keep the edge active. There is a Kalaiarangam (Auditorium) which is at the main entrance of the sit. This is retained with minimal renovation done, to retain its cultural and heritage Value.