Coimbatore Government Museum to Relocate to Semmozhi Poonga

Government Museum in Coimbatore to Shift from Nehru Stadium to Semmozhi Poonga

In a major development for heritage preservation and public access, the Government Museum in Coimbatore will soon be relocated from the Nehru Stadium commercial complex to Semmozhi Poonga , a newly-developed cultural and recreational space in the city. The shift is expected to boost footfall, improve visitor engagement and enable better exhibition capacity.

Reason for Relocation

The museum’s current premises, in use since 2009, offered little room for expansion and recorded a steady drop in visitors over the past five years. Nodal Officer K.A. Murugavel , a former curator, stated that the new venue aligns more naturally with the park’s cultural atmosphere. A 4,000 sq. ft. hall in the park's ticketing block has already been allotted, and interior work — including display cases, lighting, pedestals and labelling — will begin soon.

A Multi-Disciplinary Collection of Heritage

Established in 1990, the museum is the only one in Coimbatore to house collections cutting across geology, botany, art, archaeology and local history . Of the 1,500 artefacts , nearly 900 are currently displayed, while the remaining items lie in reserve storage. Preparations are underway to clean, document and pack all relics for safe transit.

Curator K. Devi Priya confirmed that among the most prized displays are 8th-century artefacts , including a three-tier hero stone, Pattanam stone inscriptions, and a 2,000-year-old burial urn — all excavated within Coimbatore district. The latest addition, a metal deity image from Perur recovered in 2021, also remains part of the collection.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Government Museum founded in: 1990

• Total artefacts: ~1,500 (900 displayed, rest in reserve)

• New location: Semmozhi Poonga, Coimbatore

• Oldest exhibits: 8th century hero stones, inscriptions, burial urn

• Space allotted for new gallery: 4,000 sq. ft.

Expanding Reach for Art and History

Officials believe the new location inside Semmozhi Poonga will draw families, students and tourists, helping revive awareness of the region’s heritage. The move marks a new phase for the museum — now poised to become a more visible cultural hub for Coimbatore.