National Art Gallery

The National Art Gallery is located in the Government Museum Complex on Pantheon Road in Egmore, Chennai. This art gallery is one of the oldest in India and is a must-see for tourists in Chennai.

One of the most famous historical buildings in Chennai is the Art Gallery at the Government Museum Complex. It is also one of the newest art galleries in the country. The Art gallery is worth visiting during the Chennai tour package.

The British built this huge limestone building in 1906. After extensive repairs, it reopened to the public in January 2021. This colonial and Indo-Saracenic-style house is easy to notice in the area.

Is the National Art Gallery free?

The National Gallery is where the country's works from the 13th century to the early 20th century, which are in the Western European style, are kept. People from all over the country can visit the collection for free 361 days a year.

What is the history of the National Art Gallery in Chennai?

The National Art Gallery was built to honour Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. At that time, it was famous as Victoria Memorial Hall. The Art Gallery is in the sandstone in the style of the Indo-Saracenic civilization. Builder Henry Irwin planned it. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has found it a heritage place.

The Gallery was closed to the public in 2002 because of several structural problems and flaws in the building. J. Jayalalithaa, then-Chief Minister, later reopened it after making major repairs. 

What is the most famous piece in the National Gallery of Art?

There are four different parts to the Art Gallery. They are the Raja Ravi Varma Painting Gallery, the Decorative Art Gallery, the Indian Traditional Art Gallery, and the Tanjore Painting Gallery. 

Tourists can see miniature paintings from the Mughal era, crafts from the 11th and 12th centuries, and Rajput works from the 18th and 19th centuries. The painting also portrays several British officers, such as Lord Connemara and Lord William Bentinck.

The best time to visit 

Chennai has a tropical climate that is both dry and wet. Because of this, the weather is primarily hot and sticky for most of the year. Winter months, from November to February, are the best times to visit the National Art Gallery because the weather is mild.