Gass Forest Museum - Tamilnadu
The Gass Forest Museum is a popular tourist attraction situated on Cowley Brown Road in Coimbatore, on the campus of Forest College. The museum structure dates back more than a century. The museum and the train station are only 3.5 kilometers apart. The Tamil Nadu government is in charge of this museum.
The Gass Forest Museum has a long history that dates back to the early 20th century and is situated in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Horace Arichibald Gass, the Conservator of Forests at the time, founded the museum in 1902. Originally called the Forest Museum at Coimbatore, Baron Ampthill, the Madras Governor, formally opened it to the public on April 15, 1902. The Gass Forest Museum was renamed in Gass's honor by his successor, F. A. Lodge, following his retirement in 1905. The province of Madras's Conservator of the Forests, J.A. Gamble, had the idea to establish a forestry museum in the 1800s. But he was unable to do so for a variety of reasons. A later addition to the museum was Horace Arichibald Gass's 1902 founding. Gass was the forest conservator at the time. He founded the museum with the goal of showcasing the many facets of forestry through an extensive collection. Gass first assembled the museum collection on the first floor of his office building. The veranda and a few more rooms were eventually added to the museum. The museum now occupies a building that was constructed in 1915.
Gass Forest Museum was constructed with red stones in the classic British Gothic style. It is evident that the hall has distributed ventilation. That is what makes this construction method so beautiful. Specially brought from Great Britain were the iron pillars utilized in the hall. Building strength comes from folding in all four corners, which allows it to endure a perpendicular earthquake impact. The public could visit the museum starting on April 15, 1902. Baron Ampthill, the Madras governor, gave it his official opening. The museum was shuttered and used as a rescue station for Greek and Maltese evacuees during World War II. The Gass Forest Museum features displays of woodworking techniques, insects, butterflies, wildlife, antique weapons, and cultural items. Among the cultural objects are entomological specimens, timber products, models of forest engineering, and tribal jewelry and ornaments. The museum currently houses 10,000 distinct kinds of antiquities. It is a popular place for people to view lifelike stuffed animals and reptiles. At the museum's entryway are a stuffed wild bison, a deer, and a sloth. In addition, there are plush animals such as a bramhini kite, a leopard, and a peacock. The preserved infant elephant fetus, plush baby elephant, and elephant bone are among the Gass Forest Museum's top attractions. It's a fantastic break for wildlife enthusiasts to visit this museum. The museum's geology department features representative displays from 135 nations. To preserve the dampness, the formalin is replaced on a regular basis, and the objects are polished. Every month, the museum's collection of fungi, seeds, and soil is refreshed.
Timing:
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and all Central Government holidays are closed.
Entrance Fee:
For Indians: INR 20 for children and INR 40 for adults. 200 Indian rupees for foreigners.
Ways to Reach Gass Forest Museum:
By Air: The museum is located approximately 12.8 km from Coimbatore International Airport.
By Rail: 3.7 km distant at the Coimbatore Junction Railway Station. To go to the museum, you can take public transportation from the train station or hail a cab or taxi.
By Road: Coimbatore has excellent road access to neighboring states and cities. To get to the museum, you can take public transportation, private vehicles, autorickshaws, or hired taxis.