Visitors in large numbers gathered at Purunai archeological museum in Tirunelveli on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: A. SHAIKMOHIDEEN
Over 25,000 people visited Porunai archaeological museum in Tirunelveli, between Tuesday and Saturday.
Built on Reddiyarpatti hillock at a cost of ₹56.36 crore, the museum was inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on December 23. The museum was opened to the public on Tuesday and has since witnessed a steady surge in visitors, recording a footfall of 25,000 till now.
The number of visitors has increased gradually each day. More than 1,200 people visited on Tuesday, followed by over 3,300 visitors on Wednesday. A total of 14,750 people visited on Thursday and Friday, while more than 7,000 people visited on Saturday.
The museum exhibits the artifacts excavated at Sivakalai, Adichanallur, Thulukkarpatti and Korkai. In addition to the centuries-old artifacts, visitors also can enjoy the 15-minute-long sound and light show on ancient Tamil civilisation that flourished at these places.
As the inauguration coincided with the winter holiday season, families and students from across Tamil Nadu and even from overseas have started including the archaeological museum in their travel itinerary. Located in the hillock along NH-44, the museum offers easy accessibility for travelers, especially those commuting through the NH-44 corridor.
To support local connectivity, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation has arranged a special bus service from Tirunelveli junction to the museum for visitors.
A total of 11 buses operate on regular days, while 18 buses run on weekends and holidays, with services scheduled at a 30 minutes interval.
Published – December 27, 2025 09:40 pm IST
