DakshinaChitra is a center for the living traditions of art, folk performing arts, craft and architecture of India with an emphasis on the traditions of South India. A project of the Madras Craft Foundation (MCF), a non-profit organization. DakshinaChitra opened to the public in December 1996. 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.

Vision and Mission: To inspire people to new ways of looking at South India's cultural traditions and their connections to the present and to the future. To aid directly in the communication and promotion of the rich and diverse cultures of India, with particular emphasis on the cultures of the people of the South.

Folk Performing Arts Revival: Folk Performing Arts of South India is a tradition that has been severely challenged by television, cinema, westernization, and changing lifestyles. Folk performances that were extremely popular and regular in village festivals of South India are now facing oblivion. Folk performers are turning to other occupations for their livelihood. DakshinaChitra hosts regular folk performances and involves the performers in interactive programs and workshops. We help them to come in contact with a larger market. We also encourage students and children to learn folk dances and folk performances during Summer Camps and Children's Festival.

Visiting Dakshinachitra: DakshinaChitra is an exciting cross cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India. You can explore 17 heritage houses, amble along recreated streetscapes, explore contextual exhibitions, interact with typical village artisans and witness folk performances set in an authentic ambience. DakshinaChitra literally means – “a picture of the south.

Learn at Dakshinachitra: One of the primary objectives of Dakshina Chitra is to to increase the awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of South India through educational programs. Both urban and rural children are encouraged to visit Dakshina Chitra and are exposed to a series of carefully planned activities drawn from the culture, crafts and arts of South India. We strive to stimulate creativity and self confidence among the youngsters by learning through the arts.

Research and Development: Research at DakshinaChitra centers on photographic and video Documentation of performers, artisans, craft processes, festivals and architecture. To complement and aid research oriented programmes DakshinaChitra has set up an Archives and Library focused on the arts of South India. The center also has a special archiving section with catalogued photographs, CD’s, videos and editing facilities. Our Museum Collection contains primarily the artifacts and textiles of everyday life of South India.

Urban Visualities: Urban visualities is a series of events consisting of an artist workshop, international seminar, and exhibition on art and spectacle in public places in India and beyond. It explores image circulations in and contestations of the public realm. The types of visualities addressed here range from cinema imagery, religious hoardings, advertizing images to political statues and murals.

Location: East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Chinglepet District – 600 118.

Accommodation at Tamilnadu