Government Museum, Chennai

One of the oldest museums in India, this sprawling complex in the Egmore district was established in the mid-19th century and spreads across several red-brick Indo-Saracenic buildings. Its celebrated bronze gallery holds an unrivalled collection of Chola-era sculptures, including exquisite figures of dancing Shiva. Other sections cover archaeology, natural history, numismatics and South Indian art. Its distinctive rotunda and arcaded galleries make it a landmark of Chennai's cultural life.