Colonial building at Government Botanical Garden in Nilgiris converted into museum

Discover the newly renovated museum in a historic colonial building, showcasing the Government Botanical Garden's rich history and Adivasi culture.

A 167-year-old colonial building on the premises of the Government Botanical Garden (GBG) has been renovated and repurposed to host a museum showcasing the history of the garden as well as the Adivasi culture in the Nilgiris.

The building had been in a state of neglect for over two decades, and was being used only as a sales counter to sell seeds and plants at the garden, said officials, adding that the renovation is still incomplete, as more changes are being planned. The garden itself is a little over 175 years old, which means that the building would have been constructed a few years after the garden had been established, officials stated.

As part of the experience, tourists are being allowed to visit the museum, where old photographs of the garden, detailing its founding and the changes it underwent over the last two centuries, have been exhibited. Furthermore, statues of indigenous Adivasi communities are also on display, showcasing their links to the Nilgiris.

Speaking to The Hindu, Joint Director of Horticulture Shibila Mary said that while the building had not been maintained properly over the past few decades, it had been cleaned up and renovated into a museum last year. “We also had to close it again for a little while since then, as the exhibits inside were being curated. Now, tourists are being allowed to visit it,” she said, adding that further additions to the museum are being planned in consultation with the Nilgiris district administration.