Public enjoying 7D boat simulator at the Porunai Archaeological Museum in Tirunelveli on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The huge crowd that thronged the ‘Porunai Archaeological Museum’, which was opened to the visitors on Tuesday after it was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin last Saturday, were thrilled to see the ancient Tamil civilisation and the attractively showcased artefacts.
Even though the museum was opened at 10 a.m., the crowd started gathering at 9.30 a.m. itself and the 17-minute-long audio – visual show at the museum’s mini theatre set the right tone before getting immersed into the finer details of the museum, like iron smelting interactive board, pearl fishery etc.
While the entry fee for the Indian children is ₹10, the fee for adults is ₹20 and the entry fee for the students is just ₹5. For foreigners it is ₹50 and for children the entry fee is ₹25. Those who carry cameras will have to pay an additional ₹30 and it will be ₹100 for recording the artefacts with video cameras.
Apart from this, ₹25 will be collected for enjoying the 5D ‘Ainthinai’ theatre and ₹25 for virtual reality boat simulator movements (7D).
Commanding Officer of NCC 3 TN Girls Battalion Deepak Singh Samant, a sena medalist, who was here for the past three years and one among the visitors of the archaeological museum on the maiden day, was just thrilled to revisit the ancient Tamils’ civilisation through the artefacts.
“I’ve seen this place from rubbles to this beautiful creation… Similar kind of things should be created everywhere so that the future generation will come to know the ancient civilisation and their ancestors. The technological display of artefacts kept here give more room for interaction through interactive boards which enable the visitors to understand how people made tools from iron, pottery etc. I feel blessed to visit this spot,” Mr. Deepak from Uttarakhand said.
Though the visitors have to pay the additional ₹50 for enjoying the 5D ‘Ainthinai’ and 7D boat simulator, there was roaring response from the visitors on the first day.
“It gave me such a thrilling experience as if I’m sailing in the boat.” said Yasodha of Palayamkottai after she ‘sailed’ in the boat which had been kept in the museum to tell the visitors about the ancient Tamil’s gruelling voyage to sell their priceless pearls to the Romans and the Chinese.
Most of the visitors were awestruck by the artefacts as they saw the ancient Tamil’s iron smelting technique, pearl diving, iron tools etc.
Public visiting at the Porunai Archaeological Museum in Tirunelveli on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“I feel proud of being the descendent of this great civilisation… The museum will certainly pass on the rich Tamil culture and civilisation to the next generation. It is very good initiative by the Tamil Nadu Government,” said Gomathi of Palayamkottai.
The visitors gratefully recalled the archaeologists who put in their tireless efforts in excavating the artefacts of Adichanallur, Sivakalai, Korkai and Thulukkarpatti.
“We need to know our history and appreciate the archaeologists’ pain in excavating the past glory dating back to 3000 BC. Our children should know this history and this enviably civilized ancient Tamils,” John Samuel of Vallanaadu said.
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, which operated 11 buses on Tuesday from Tirunelveli Junction Bus-Stand and Veinthankulam new bus-stand to the museum via Jeba Garden for every one hour, has planned to increase this frequency during the upcoming holidays.
The museum will remain closed on all Tuesdays, Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanthi.
District Collector R. Sukumar, who visited the museum on Tuesday, appealed to everyone coming to this part of Tamil Nadu for Christmas, New Year and Pongal holidays to visit the museum without fail to learn about the great Tamil civilisation.
“We’re now encountering tonnes of videos on tourist places, food reviews etc. on social media. I appeal to the younger generation to visit Porunai Museum and make videos of our great ancestors and their rich culture and civilization to spread it across the globe. It is our responsibility to make ‘Porunai Museum’ a must visit place,” Dr. Sukumar said.
A total of 1,674 visitors visited ‘Porunai Archaeological Museum’ on day one.
Published – December 23, 2025 07:36 pm IST
