Dakshin Chitra

Dakshin Chitra is a heritage centre next to MGM Dizee World along the ECR.

Here one can find the traditional South Indian houses of different styles. These houses have been aesthetically recreated using the original materials. It is said that the parts of the original houses were dismantled from their places and re-constructed here.The people of Dakshin Chitra also conduct cultural events pertaining to Southern states, organise craft workshops.

The entire place is divided into 4 different sections, one for each state. Tamil Nadu and Kerala style houses account for about 80% of the houses with the rest 20% being shared by the other 2 South Indian states.



Wall painting found in one of the houses and Aiyyanaar temple

Something that impressed me during my last week's visit was the puppet show. The puppet show is performed on all weekends, once every hour starting from 11am. It is only of 10 minutes duration but the puppeteer who performs behind the screen is immensely talented. He handles upto 3 puppets, modulates his voice differently for each character and at the same time plays the drum for background music. Sometimes he throws one of the puppets on the air and catches them without the puppets moving away from the screen.


Puppet Show and Puppeteer

The lady who applies mehndi seemed to interest one of my colleagues. I heard from another 65 year old visitor that palm reader here is spot on with her predictions. (why risk it??). Apart from all these they also sell tasteful handicrafts from the southern states.


Bullock cart and a chariot

Dakshin Chitra took us through a small journey to various country sides of the south and by the time I saw the watch, I had spent half a day of otherwise boring saturday.