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Madurai Museum Reopens with Digital Gandhi Journey
28 Sep
Summary
- The historic Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai reopened after a Rs10.25 crore renovation.
- New digital exhibits, touchscreen kiosks, and an audio-visual theatre enhance visitor experience.
- Traditional restoration methods preserved the palace's original architectural character.
The Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai has been inaugurated following a comprehensive renovation costing Rs10.25 crore. This extensive upgrade revitalized the historic summer palace, ensuring its original architectural splendor is now appreciated alongside its significant collections. Traditional construction materials like lime and river sand were used to restore the Madras terrace and vaulted roofs, maintaining the building's heritage character.
Formerly a summer palace of Rani Mangammal, the museum, first inaugurated in 1959, now features modern interactive digital exhibits. Partitions within the building were removed to make way for digitally enabled display cases, improving visibility of both artifacts and the palace's original interiors. Illuminated boards and interactive displays guide visitors through historical narratives.
Visitors can explore Gandhi's life and India's freedom struggle via touchscreen kiosks. These digital exhibits cover nearly 300 years of history, commencing with the British arrival. The museum also highlights Gandhi's extensive travels within Tamil Nadu and his life history through large-format touch displays. An added lift improves accessibility for all.
Further enhancing the visitor experience, a 34-seat air-conditioned audio-visual theatre now screens a 15-minute film on Gandhi's life. An animated puppet show offers an engaging way for children to learn about Gandhi's legacy. The renovation, initially estimated at Rs6 crore, was sanctioned by the Tamil Nadu government, with work commencing in October 2022.
