Dakshinachitra is built as a heritage village in Chennai that has about 18 different houses that exhibit various cultures of South India. The houses in Dakshinachitra are built with influences from some of the South Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
The houses are designed and built by professional architectures and many architectural students, carpenters, and workers. The houses were initially purchased from various parts of South India and then demolished after paying the proper compensation to the original house owners.
The compensation paid to the original house owners was in the range starting from 50000 INR to 1.5 million INR. The houses were then brought to the heritage village and were reconstructed and refurbished. In order to preserve the cultural heritage of these houses, the demolition and reconstruction took place under the strict supervision of the Stapathis.
Not only the houses were reconstructed but the overall landscape of the village was sketched and designed in a new-fangled manner.
Places to Eat near Dakshinachitra
1. Sangeetha Veg Restaurant:
It is a South Indian restaurant that not only offers great food but it is also known for its amazing services. The restaurant offers all the necessary amenities to its customers like free valet parking and it also has wheelchair access. The best part of the restaurant is having food in the open area tables, which makes it available for great sights of the surroundings.
2. Rumman Food Court Multi-Cuisine Restaurant:
The Rumman food court and restaurant are widely held for its amazing breakfast options. It offers countless Indian and international cuisines at the best possible price and quality. One will definitely fall in love with its simplicity and cleanliness.
3. Palmyra Restaurant:
If you want to dine out inside the coconut country resort, then there is no better than having food at Palmyra. It offers amazing food and services in a pleasant and upmarket setting.
Travelers' Tip for Visiting Dakshinachitra
Here are some of the points you should consider before and during your visit to the Dakshinachitra:
1. Make sure that you do not touch any of the displayed artifacts.
2. Outside eatables are not allowed inside the museum premises.
3. There is a place for having food near the parking complex of the museum.
4. You can park your car at the designated parking complex.
5. In order to use cameras inside the museum, you need to pay 20 INR for still photography and 70 INR for videography.
6. If you want to indulge in the cultural influences of South India, you can spend time attending various workshops, performances, puppet shows, and training programs on local crafts like necklace crafting and basket weaving.