Shembaganur Museum, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu India

This museum is MNaintained by the Sacred Heart College  Theological Seminary founded in 1895. It is devoted to archaeological remains and the flora and fauna of the hills. One of the best orchidoriums in the country with more that 300 species of orchids is also housed here. It is about 5.6 Kms from the lake. A Spanish Father Ugarthe, contributed his major collections to the Museum. Entrance fee Rs one per head. 

Shenbaganur Museum of Natural History, Shenbaganur Museum is the Museum of Natural History of Kodaikanal, spotted at a distance of 5.6 kms from the Kodaikanal Lake, besides the road to Kodaikanal. A regular accumulation of individual stuffs of natural history since the 1920s have now turned to be the key segment of the current museum. The sacred heart college, a theological institution formed in 1895 maintains this Shenbaganur Museum. A one day vacation to the museum would be an ideal suggestion to people touring Kodaikanal. The Shenbaganur Museum has got a compilation of numerous specimens of butterflies, moths, snakes and mammals. Anthropologists would be contented to have a quick look of many shoots and models of dolemms tombs and funeral urns of pre historic people of Palani Hills. There is a herbarium too, having more than 2500 plants and a huge garden.

The museum has one of the best orchidoriums in India, whiche compriese close to 300 species of trees and flower gardens. The two gardens have trees of unique scientific significance. A collection of 300 varieties of timber, in addition to illustrations of plants of Palani Hills have formed a part of this museum.

The Shembaganur museum has two outsized papier mache assistance maps, one casing the entire Palani range, and the other showing Kodaikanal and its backdrop giving a clear broad idea of all the natural formations, geological characteristics and economical developments in and around Kodai. All the streams, roads, rock formations, waterfalls, the lake, the shola forests, etc., of the entire Palani Hills are sown noticeably on these relief maps. Today's Shembaganur museum at Kodaikanal is the hard effort of E. Ugarte under whom the control of the museum came in 1951 from A. Anglade, who found this museum. He set the past collections together and initiated a substantial compilation of butterflies, moths and birds by teams of students. In 1963 Ugarte gave a concise description of the Shembaganur museum assets. It has been published as 'A Museum of the Palanis'. An earlier record was 'The Botanical inventory in the Museum' by Fr. KM Mathew in 1954. The major exhibits/holdings of the museum fall the under categories Anthropology, Flora & Fauna and Handicrafts.

The Shenbaganur Museum has an impressive collection of stuffed-birds and the butterflies. The Flora and Fauna Museum is maintained by the Sacred Heart College. A Theological Seminary was founded in 1895. It is devoted to the archaeological remains and the flora and fauna of the hills. One of the best Orchidoriums in the country with more than 300 species is also located here. It is about 5.6 Kms from the lake. A Spanish Father Ugarthe, contributed his major collections to the Museum. A wide ranging collection of birds classified into ground birds, water birds, tree birds and large high flying birds such as Black Eagle, Bengal Vulture, Honey Buzzard, Crested.

 Shenbaganur museum of Kodaikanal boasts of a vast reserve of the relics of antique pieces of art and craft of the region. One of the important Kodaikanal tourist attractions, the Shenbaganur museum draws several visitors who are enriched with historical knowledge of the ancient times.

A part of the Sacred Heart College of Kodaikanal, the museum reflects the rich traditional heritage and cultural ancestry of the region. The store house of traditional artifacts of Kodaikanal, Shenbaganur museum is easily accessible from any part of the city. A unique characteristic of Shenbaganur museum is its wide collection of rare and endangered species of birds and beautiful flowers that imparts a magical spell on the visitors.

A memorable experience of a lifetime, the Shenbaganur museum has preserved the cultural heritage of the region over the centuries. The Shenbaganur museum is of utmost interest for those who want to know about the rich traditional culture of South India. The Senbaganur museum performs the dual task of satisfying the quest of the historians and those who love nature and its inhabitants.

The Shenbaganur museum is a welcome distraction from the stress and tensions of regular life. With its vast plethora of rare piece of art and craft, the museum portrays the artistic caliber and creative imagination of the local craftsmen of the region during the ancient times.

A favorite spot for nature lovers and admirers of birds, Shenbaganur museum provides the visitors with a wonderful opportunity to explore the habits of the endangered species.