CM Vijay reopened the Gandhi Memorial Museum at Madurai’s Rani Mangammal Palace on 28 Sep 2026 after a ₹10.25 crore renovation with new digital galleries; it opens to the public from 29 Sep.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday, September 28, 2026, reopened the Gandhi Memorial Museum in Madurai after a ₹10.25 crore renovation that has added modern digital galleries on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom struggle and Gandhi’s journeys through Tamil Nadu. The museum reopens to the public from Tuesday, September 29.
Arriving from Government Rajaji Hospital, where he had launched the Gold Ring scheme, the Chief Minister first garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the museum grounds and paid his respects. He then formally reopened the renovated museum, toured the new galleries, and watched a documentary film on Gandhi’s life. He was presented with a memento and signed the visitors’ register, according to Daily Thanthi and Polimer News.
The renovation has introduced new displays that use modern digital technology to tell three connected stories:
| Gallery theme | What visitors will see |
|---|---|
| Gandhi’s life | His journey from childhood to the leader of India’s independence movement |
| The freedom struggle | The history of the national movement in which Gandhi was central |
| Gandhi in Tamil Nadu | His visits to Tamil Nadu and the places and people connected with them |
The museum is housed in the historic Rani Mangammal Palace in Madurai and was first opened by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1959. It is one of India’s major Gandhi museums and is best known for preserving the blood-stained garment Gandhi was wearing when he was assassinated in 1948.
Madurai holds a special place in Gandhi’s story: it was here, in September 1921, that he gave up formal dress and adopted the simple loincloth he wore for the rest of his life, in solidarity with India’s poor. The renovated museum is expected to draw students, tourists and pilgrims visiting the city’s Meenakshi Amman temple.
The museum is on the Collectorate Road in Madurai’s Alwarpuram area and reopens to visitors from September 29, 2026. Check with the museum for current timings before visiting.
Sources: Daily Thanthi, Polimer News, Maalaimalar, ETV Bharat.
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