National Art Gallery — Attraction in Zone 5 Royapuram

Located in the historic Victoria Memorial Hall, this gallery was built in 1906–07 in Indo‑Saracenic style, designed by architect Henry Irwin, using red sandstone from Andhra Pradesh .

It sits in the Government Museum Complex on Pantheon Road, adjacent to the Connemara Public Library .

🖼️ Architecture & Heritage

A grand two-storey structure featuring domes, arches, carved jaalis, and Mughal–Gothic motifs—an impressive example of colonial-era design .

It’s officially recognized as a heritage building by CMDA .

🎨 Collections & Galleries

The gallery invites you to journey through centuries of Indian art:

Ground Floor: Showcases Tamil Nadu’s industrial arts and handicrafts .

First Floor: Features traditional and historical artworks:

Miniature paintings from Mughal, Rajput & Kangra schools

Tanjore paintings

Dedicated Raja Ravi Varma gallery with fibre‑optic lighting

British portraits, decorative arts, and contemporary sculptures .

Second Floor: Celebrates:

Rock & cave art (simulated environments)

Holographic exhibits .

🗓️ Timings & Entry Fees

Open: Monday–Thursday, Saturday–Sunday, 9 AM–5 PM; closed on Fridays & national holidays .

Entry (Indian Nationals): ₹15 (adults), ₹10 (children under 12), ₹5 for student/teacher groups with prior permission .

Foreign Nationals: ₹250 (adults), ₹125 (children) .

Camera & Video: ₹200 per still camera, ₹500 per video camera .

No separate ticket needed—general museum ticket covers access to the gallery .

🛠️ Restoration & Reopening

Closed from 2002 due to structural issues.

Underwent major renovations (led by J. Jayalalithaa), costing ₹11–19 crore, with restoration completed and re‑opened in Feb 2024 .

Since then, the footfall has increased, with students, researchers, and art lovers flocking to enjoy the revitalized space and 200+ exhibits .

🎯 Why Visit?

Immerse in rare art—from Raja Ravi Varma masterpieces to centuries-old miniatures and Tanjore paintings.

Marvel at a restored heritage structure, polished to its former Indo-Saracenic glory.

Explore art through time—classical to modern, decorative to educational.

Ideal for a 90–120 min walk in a culturally rich and architecturally stunning setting—perfect synergy with the main museum, library, and theatre.

📝 Tips for Visitors

Visit Nov–Feb for pleasant weather and quieter galleries .

Arrive by 9 AM, especially on weekends, to avoid crowds.

Respect no-touch and photography rules, and pay for camera access.

Combine with the Government Museum, Children’s Museum, and Library—all in one visit for rich cultural immersion.

Ideal for teachers and groups—docent‑led tours and educational programmes are...

The National Art Gallery is located on Pantheon Road in Egmore. It is a fine example of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The gallery was initially known as Victoria Memorial Hall.

Built of sandstone in the year 1907 by T. Namberumal Chetty, the gallery showcases medieval handicrafts, sculptures, metal ware and paintings that belong to various schools of art.

The National Art Gallery consists of four different sections, which are Tanjore Painting Gallery, Decorative Art Gallery, Indian Traditional Art Gallery and Ravi Varma Painting Gallery. The miniature paintings from the Mughal era, handicrafts from 11th and 12th centuries and Rajput paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries are...

Dont waste time visiting this place, all are in shabby condition… only exterior of buildings are painted. Later i thought of visiting library near museum where I was told by a library lady gatekeeper that it is other building.. i was like good fooling and left the place… building clearly says connemara public library.. i found autodriver too cheater in chennai.. they say charges like 400, 500 for 4km.. i was like what do they think of themselves… they are like cunning fox and think other people out of chennai are fools. Bad experience from common autodriver to...