MCF, which was created by Deborah Thiagarajan in 1984, started the museum. It's a heritage lifestyle village that depicts people's lives in various South Indian states. In 1970, Thiagarajan visited Chennai (then Madras) and sowed the MCF seedling solely to maintain the South's culture. She was able to get 10 acres of land for this project on a 33-year lease in July 1991. The  Chennai Dakshinachitra Museum was finally established, thanks to the efforts of MCF, the government, and numerous entrepreneurs. National Folklore Support Centre, Prakriti Foundation, Crafts Council of India, Office of the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, Ford Foundation, and Amethyst were among the long-term contributors.

The museum is made up of 18 heritage houses that depict the way of life of people from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Karnataka. These are real houses that were dismantled with the approval of the original owners and then transported here to be rebuilt by architecture students, workers, and carpenters. The vernacular style dwellings were purchased by the Madras Crafts Foundation. These were worth anywhere from INR 50,000 to INR 1.5 million.

They were demolished properly under the supervision of Stapathis and then reconstructed in their original form in the specified space. The roadways and other features of the old village were also restored. Every excellent thing has its detractors, and the Dakshina Chitra was no exception.

• Karnataka Houses: Chikmagalur House and Ilkal Weaver's House are the two houses in the Karnataka section. The Chikmagalur House, built-in 1914, was recently relocated to the museum from the Chikmagalur district.
• Andhra Pradesh Houses: The Ikkat House, a dwelling for weavers, is the first house in Andhra Pradesh. In the centre, there is a courtyard. The side door leads directly to the garden.
• Varija Art Gallery: The Varija Art Gallery is a well-known venue for a variety of activities. Exhibitions of art, painting, culture, and publications are held on a regular basis. The building's architecture is contemporary and European in style.
• Tamil Nadu Houses: The Chettinad mansion, with its unique courtyard and towering facade, is the highlight of the Tamil Nadu area. Houses like these may be found in Sivaganga, a historic vacation destination. Each home is designed to be functional for the people who live there. 

• Don't bring any food items to eat, as it is prohibited to take food inside. A separate area has been set up for eating beside the parking lot.
• For still cameras, there is a charge of INR 20 and for video cameras, there is a price of INR 70.

• In Tamil Nadu, there is no such thing as the optimal time to visit the Dakshinachitra museum. Visitors can visit this location at any time of year to see the beauty of the amazing heritage village that has been created to conserve the expanse's age-old artisanship and culture.
• If you want to get the most out of your trip, travel to Tamil Nadu between October and February. The hot sun and frequent downpours make the summer and rainy season in Tamil Nadu unsuitable.

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• Ananta Spa MGM
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• Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
• ISKCON Chennai, Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple