As you drive closer to the temple town of Srirangapatna while cruising along National Highway 275, also known as the Bengaluru Mysuru expressway, a huge building sporting a façade which resembles the silhouette of a car tyre is hard to miss. This impressively designed building is the newly opened Payana car museum envisioned by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade. With an engaging collection of automobiles, Payana museum has been attracting car lovers, automobile enthusiasts as well as vehicle aficionados since its opening on 01-Apr-24. An insightful car museum this one is located about 130 km from Bangalore.
Case for Conservation of Vintage Vehicles
Dr Heggade’s passion for automobiles and vintage vehicles is well known. “These vintage beauties have been on display at the ‘Manjusha’ car museum at Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala for more than thirty years now. The Payana Museum is a more organized and interesting extension of the collection” says Dr Heggade. Aptly named Payana which is the Kannada word for journey, a visit to the museum is akin to taking an exciting journey into the past. The meticulously curated assortment of vintage cars have mostly been personally collected by Dr. Heggade over the last 50 years.
Spread over 23 acres, the museum houses 69 vehicles, including vintage cars from 1925 to newer models. The collection includes a diverse array of rare vehicles from different eras, offering a comprehensive overview of the automotive industry’s evolution and highlighting the contributions of various companies. “Echoing the ethos of ‘from carts to cars’, the museum proudly showcases the evolution of automobile travel, from a variety of carts to automobiles, including two-wheelers, alongside cultural artefacts, thereby providing visitors a comprehensive glimpse into the evolution of transportation” says Shraddha Amith, Director, Payana Museum.
Innovative Design and Education Hub
The Payana car museum stands out with its innovative design and distinctive architectural elements like the exterior metal panel façade which is conceptualized as a tyre, the antique door at the entrance and the intricately carved wooden pillars in the interiors. “The complex includes the museum building, visitor cafeteria and a community-engaging amphitheatre. Payana’s design prioritizes universal accessibility and visitor circulation. The museum’s main building, gracefully elevated on a podium along a commanding axis, beckons visitors to explore the evolution of automotive innovation while connecting history to modernism through various eras” says Manju Kirthan, Managing Director, Anantharam & Associates.
According to Dr. Heggade, the Payana Car Museum is not just a showcase of vintage vehicles, but also a hub of knowledge and education. School children, mechanical and technical students and anyone interested in the evolution of automobile technology can make use of the extensive information displayed about the showcased vehicles. This is supplemented by interactive exhibits that offer insights into the rich history of the automobile sector through live models. “Visitors will find dedicated resources available to deepen their understanding of the historical context and specifications of every car exhibited” adds Shradhha Amit.
Eclectic Collection
Embracing diversity, the Payana car museum houses a unique collection of historically significant vehicles. A shiny black 1962 Standard Herald with origins in England greets visitors at the entrance and as one proceeds inside, the history and evolution of the wheel is displayed along with a variety of carts and carriages.
Cars used by eminent personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, the Mysore Maharaja and Sir C.V. Raman are also on display with interesting trivia related to the model of the car, engine specifications, torque, power, transmissions etc displayed. From the 1946 Ford Perfect, 1947 French Citroen Traction and the American Buick series of the same year to the 1955 Chevrolet Belair, 1956 Indian Hindustan Landmaster and the 1961 Hindustan Ambassador, the museum is a haven for car lovers.
Visitors can admire heritage vehicles like the double-decker bus which was once a beloved icon in Mumbai, Willy trucks, jeeps used during World War 2, Dodge Power Wagon as the well as the Mumbai ‘Khalli-peeli’ taxis of the yesteryears. Recent cars include the 1980s Mercedes Benz, 1991 Contessa classic and the electric Reva.
Apart from vehicles, the museum has a small yet immersive collection of artefacts like kitchen utensils, lamps, agricultural tools, baskets, palm leaf manuscripts, sculptures, photographs, paintings and machines of the yesteryears.
Another version of this article was first published in the New Indian Express here. Click here to read about other engaging museums in and around Bangalore.
