CM Stalin virtually opens Keeladi Open-Air Museum

In a landmark moment for Indian archaeology, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the world-class Keeladi Open-Air Museum via video conferencing on Friday.

The ₹.24.30-crore facility, which blends ancient history with modern architectural grandeur, officially opens a window into a 2,600-year-old urban civilisation that continues to rewrite the history of the Indian subcontinent. 

The ceremony at the site was led by Minister for Finance Thangam Thennarasu and Minister for Cooperation K.R. Periakaruppan, alongside local dignitaries and archaeological experts. 

Addressing the gathering, the Ministers emphasised that the Keeladi excavations shed new light on the history of Tamil Nadu. “With scientific evidence confirming an advanced, literate society as early as the 6th Century BCE, Keeladi has emerged as a symbol of pride for the global Tamil diaspora,” said Mr. Thangam Thennarasu.  

“Tamil Nadu is a land with 1.5 million years of human history,” he stated. 

Chief Minister MK Stalin virtually inagurated Keeladi Open-Air Museum in Sivaganga on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“The findings at Keeladi prove that our ancestors were living in a highly developed urban society, contemporary to the Indus Valley civilization, with distinct cultural and industrial practices.” 

Unlike traditional museums that house artefacts behind glass, this open-air museum allows visitors to witness history in its original context. Spanning 4.5 acres and featuring 65,380 square feet of built-up area, the facility includes two massive galleries designed to global standards. 

Some of the key features of the site would be its massive brick structures and drainage systems found during the excavations that are preserved in the site. 

Other specifications included the museum, which showcases a range of finds, from high quality gold and terracotta jewellery to iron weapons and writing tools.  

The displays also highlight the results of carbon dating and mineral analysis, proving the community’s mastery over textiles, pottery, and metallurgy. 

They highlighted its commitment to transforming Keeladi into a major educational and tourism hub.  

Following ten successful phases of excavation in Keeladi and surrounding areas like Kondangai, Agaram, and Manalur, the State aimed to ensure that the technological and cultural brilliance of the Sangam Era is preserved for the youth of today, said the Ministers. 

The foundation for this specific project was laid just over a year ago, on January 23, 2025. Its rapid completion marks a significant victory for the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, which has been working tirelessly to bridge the gap between ancient literature and material proof, they added.