Work on Gangaikonda Cholapuram museum will be started by Pongal

Artist’s impression of Gangaikondacholapuram Museum.

The construction of the Gangaikondacholapuram museum near the Arulmigu Peruvudaiyar temple will start in mid-January next year.

The Public Works Department has begun preliminary work to construct an archaeological museum to commemorate the legacy of the Chola dynasty and the significance of the famous temple.

The museum covers an area of ​​4.14 hectares and is located within a 150-meter radius of the temple to attract tourists. The Rs 221-crore museum will be built jointly by the public works, tourism, culture, religious endowments and archeology departments. This is one of several other joint initiatives to establish museums, including one in Kilardi.

Officials from the Center for Architecture and Preservation said the museum will have a floor area of ​​25,017 square feet, with exhibition rooms on the ground and first floors. Apart from the central dome, the exterior portion of the building will be designed in the style of temple architecture. The large central exhibition hall will display antiques unearthed from the Maligaimedu and Gangaikonda Cholapuram excavation sites and has large frames to display information about the exploration, history and achievements of the Chola rulers, be it construction techniques, maritime culture or equipment used.

PWD chief engineer KP Sathyamurthy said there will be five small showrooms on the ground floor and six small showrooms on the first floor with an area of ​​9,135 sq ft.

The department will build a composite wall with murals, decorative entrance arches, complete the landscaping and form an approach to the museum. A large statue of King Rajendra Chola will be on site to welcome visitors. Once the main structure is completed, the statues to be installed in the statue garden surrounding the museum will also be finalized, officials said.

The design of the museum was prepared by Cavan Design Consultants. They added that some of the facilities planned for phase two, with additional funding, include an amphitheatre, integrated parking facilities and a tourist facilities centre.