The Stone Sculptures of Egmore Museum

Started in 1851 CE, the Government Museum at Egmore in Chennai is the second oldest museum in India. Spread over 16 acres of land, the museum has six independent buildings that house 54 galleries. Among them, the Gallery of Stone Sculptures is remarkable. 

The Gallery has an impressive collection of sculptures that belong to various dynasties and dated various periods.  Many sculptures that are found here are unique and similar icons cannot be found anywhere else. However, it is sad that adequate information about these treasures is not provided. One cannot be satisfied merely by knowing the name of the sculpture and the period. 

The date of the early Buddhist sculptures of Amaravati ranges from 200 BCE to 250 CE. More than 300 sculptures, friezes, and fragments brought from the ruined stupa at Amaravati are displayed here. 

There are about 700 sculptures that belong to the period from the 7th century CE to recent times. They include Hindu sculptures, Jain sculptures, Buddhist sculptures, hero stones, Sati stones and snake stones. They are sculpted during the period of Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagaras, Chalukyas, Nolambas, Hoysalas and others. 

The sub-section of Copper Plates is also interesting. It displays the famous Tiruvalankadu Copper Plates. There are more than 600 copper plates and about 100 stone inscriptions in this section as per the records.

Happy travelling.