Dakshinachitra is an attempt to preserve some of the traditional south Indian ways of life by constructing a "living" village containing some of the various traditional homes of south India.
This is non – profit, community service project of the Madras Craft Foundation for the promotion and preservation of the cultures of the diverse people of India with emphasis on the four Southern States of India such as: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Dakshinachitra, open to public from December 1996, is a heritage village where the unique lifestyle of Indians is revived based on their states. The center occupies ten undulating acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal, at Muttukadu, twenty five kilometers south of Chennai, on the East Coast Road to Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. The following are the activities you can do at Dakshinachitra:
A visitor can take a tour around Dakshinachitra visiting all the heritage homes exploring their nooks and corners and bask in the charm of a bygone era. Or try his/her hand at Simple Art and Craft Activities as you tour around or play traditional games too such as an array of board games, spin tops, break pots and even shake a leg or take a peek at the exhibitions that explain some of the rich traditions of South India.