Tennessee: On Tuesday, the public will be able to visit the Porunai Archaeological Museum, which was officially opened by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on December 20 in Reddiarpatti in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.

The museum, which was envisioned as a significant cultural and educational monument for southern Tamil Nadu, is anticipated to provide guests with a comprehensive understanding of the rich archeological past of the area.

The 13-acre museum, which was built for Rs 67.25 crore, features artifacts that were unearthed from important locations of the old Tamil civilization, including Sivagalai, Adichanallur, Thulukkarpatti, and Korkai. These locations are thought to be essential for comprehending the Tamirabarani river basin’s early habitation patterns, marine activities, trading networks, and burial customs.

The museum’s introduction exhibit offers visitors a more comprehensive cultural and historical backdrop via portraits and visual representations of historically important locales. The museum complex has an amphitheater, access roads to the various blocks, a water pool, a beautiful fountain with colorful lights, and an open hall that is intended to improve the whole experience of visitors in addition to its display halls.

Daily hours for the museum are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The facility’s newly created 5D and 7D virtual reality theater, which aims to make art and history more approachable, captivating, and participatory, is a key centerpiece. Visitors may experience simulations like boating along the banks of the Tamirabarani River and viewing archeological wonders connected to the ancient Tamil civilization thanks to immersive visual effects.

The public and history buffs are very interested, and many of them want to see how the museum was founded and how archeological discoveries and ancient items are shown utilizing contemporary technologies. With the assistance of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, the Tirunelveli district government has set up specialized bus routes to make it easier for tourists to get there.

Eleven buses will travel daily from the Tirunelveli Junction Periyar Bus Stand to the museum from Monday through Saturday. The route will pass via Vannarpettai, Palayamkottai Bus Stand, and Tirunelveli New Bus Stand. Four more bus routes will be run on public holidays.

C. Santhalingam, a retired archaeologist from Madurai who founded the Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research, welcomed the new facility and said it will assist students in the southern area understand archaeological history.

In addition, he said that the museum will support local tourism and economic growth while creating job chances for history graduates.

The Porunai museum will constitute a major contribution to Tamil Nadu’s cultural infrastructure, which now consists of over 40 museums administered by the archaeology and tourism departments.