VIVEKANANDAR HOUSE

VIVEKANANDAR HOUSE

AT

CHENNAI

Vivekanandar Illam on the Marina Beach, Chennai, built 158 years back, has a long and interesting history. It was meant to store ice and hence it got its popular name, the Ice House.

 Eventually this house became a silent spectator of a series of diverse historical events, some of which have lifted this building to a status of an outstanding historical and cultural monument.

The Government took over the building in 1917 and it has been renovated recently, with a statue of Swami Vivekananda installed. Today, it houses a gallery of 150 rare photographs on the life of Swami Vivekananda.

It also houses a section on India's cultural heritage and on the history of the building itself. The Government of Tamil Nadu named the Ice House as "Vivekanandar Illam", during 1963, the Centenary year of Swami Vivekananda.

Vivekanandar Illam earlier known as Ice House (or) Castle Kernan, a sub-centre of Sri Ramakrishna math, Chennai has a unique place in the history of Ramakrishna movement.

Swami Vivekananda came to Chennai in February 1897, and he stayed at Castle Kernan for nine days. During his nine day stay, he shook India’s national consciousness through his fiery lectures at Chennai.

 Later, Ramakrishna Math (Monastery) Chennai was founded by Swami Ramakrishnananda, a brother disciple of Swami Vivekananda.

 The Math functioned from here during its first 10 years (1897-1906) until it got moved to the current location at Mylapore, Chennai. In 1963, during the Birth Centenary of Swami Vivekananda, the Government of Tamil Nadu renamed the Castle Kernan as Vivekanandar Illam (Illam means house in Tamil) or ‘Vivekananda House’.

In 1997, on the eve of the Centenary of Swamiji’s return to India and his stay at Vivekanandar Illam, the Government of Tamilnadu at the request of the Ramakrishna Math, leased out the Vivekananda House for 99 years. 

Vivekanandar Illam now houses a Permanent Exhibition on Indian Culture and Swamiji’s Life, maintained by the Ramakrishna Math and is a source of inspiration to thousands of people who visit it every year.

As part of 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai has launched a Project called “EXPERIENCE VIVEKANANDA” in Vivekanandar Illam an initiative that lets the visitors experience Swami Vivekananda’s personality and message through their heart and soul and assimilate his teachings so as to enable them to put Swamiji’s teachings into practice in their lives.

The project is designed in such a manner that it will fit all age groups, but special emphasis is given to youth and children as to inculcate strength, courage, self-confidence, unselfishness, patriotism and service to the nation in their young minds.

Timings: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 3.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Closed on: Wednesdays

By Air

 Chennai has an airport with both domestic and international terminals. Regular flights connect Chennai with the major cities within the country and also with countries like USA, Singapore, U.K etc. 

By Train

 Chennai is well connected by rail with the important towns and cities within and beyond the state. 

By Road

 State transport buses and private buses connect Chennai with the major towns and cities within the country. Vivekananda Illam is closer to the downtown areas of Chennai and is 5 -m from Chennai Central Railway station and 6-km from Chennai Egmore Railway Station. Regular city transport buses ply on beach road and visitors can alight at Ice House/ Marina.