A cultural serenade

At the heart of Chennai is Thol Isai Kalanjiyam museum stands a cultural oasis dedicated to honouring and celebrating Carnatic music's rich legacy. Here, visitors are transported into classical South Indian music as the museum displays an exquisite collection of traditional musical instruments used throughout history - like soul-stirring mridangams, bewitching veenas, and melodic flutes - that have graced this genre over generations.

Thol Isai Kalanjiyam's very name encapsulates its significance within Chennai's cultural fabric; "Thol" standing for "big", while "Isai" refers to music; this aptly captures this museum's esteemed place within its vibrant artistic community.

Chennai pulsates with tradition

Chennai vibrates with the melodious strains of Carnatic music, an art form native to South India that has found a home here. This exquisite city's allure is enhanced by the presence of historic monuments and landmarks that draw tourists hoping to immerse themselves in this timeless genre's captivating rhythms - such as Thol Isai which recently graced an exhibition at London's British Museum in 2018. Among this legacy lies Thol Isai which inspired worldwide attention at an exhibition hosted at London's British Museum this year - Thol Isai is among these treasures that charms all visitors looking for authentic experience of traditional South Indian musical heritage!

Thol Isai captured international audiences when it made the pages of The Guardian magazine with its feature story detailing its extensive cultural legacy and lasting importance within Chennai's artistic tradition.

Harmonious echoes of the past

Evoking its namesake, Thol Isai Kalanjiyam Museum stands as a beloved cultural institution in Chennai dedicated to conserving and promoting Carnatic music heritage. Blending historical beauty with cutting-edge digitization techniques to amplify Thol Isai art forms.

Eco-conscious practices at the museum's performances reflect its dedication to environmental preservation, celebrating both traditional and contemporary aspects of Carnatic music while honouring sustainability through use of natural dyes and organic fabrics.

Timings

Opening time - 10:00 AM

Closing time - 05:00 PM

(Closed on Mondays)

An enchanting melody awaits

As soon as you step inside the Thol Isai Kalanjiyam Museum, an incredible story about Carnatic music unfolds before your very eyes. Each traditional instrument serves to conjure melodies of past and future together with captivating performances that combine tradition with contemporary flair, leaving you beguiled and mesmerised.