Gass Forest Museum and the TNAU Insect Museum in Coimbatore
No scriptGass Forest Museum and the Insect Museum: Two Nature Museums in Coimbatore
Many visitors search for an “insect museum” in Coimbatore and land on the Gass Forest Museum, or the other way round. They are in fact two different museums, run by two different institutions, a short drive apart:
- The Gass Forest Museum is a forest and wildlife museum, opened in 1902, inside the Forest College campus on Cowley Brown Road.
- The Insect Museum belongs to the Department of Agricultural Entomology at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), and opened in 2018.
This guide explains what each one shows and how to plan a visit to both. (An earlier version of this page described the Gass Forest Museum as an insect museum; that was a mix-up of the two.)
Gass Forest Museum
- History: The museum was established by Horace Archibald Gass, Conservator of Forests, and was opened to the public on 15 April 1902 by Lord Ampthill, then Governor of Madras. It is one of the older natural history museums in South India.
- Location: Within the Forest College campus on Cowley Brown Road, R.S. Puram side of Coimbatore. The campus also houses the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy and the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB).
- Run by: The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB).
- Exhibits: Stuffed wildlife such as gaur, leopard, peacock and chinkara; an elephant fetus; seasoned wood samples of sandalwood and other timber trees; and, since its renovation, a 3D diorama of wildlife habitats.
For a fuller description of its galleries, read our main page on the Gass Forest Museum.
TNAU Insect Museum
- What it is: An insect museum set up by TNAU's Department of Agricultural Entomology, on the university campus in Coimbatore. It opened to visitors in 2018 and has been described as the first museum of its kind in India.
- Exhibits: Preserved specimens and displays of insects - butterflies, moths, beetles, dragonflies and crop pests, with their natural enemies - presented for students, farmers and the public.
- Who it helps: Students and researchers use the collection for study; farmers can learn to identify pests and the beneficial insects that help control them.
- Rules: Visitor reports say phones and photography are not allowed inside.
TNAU's campus also has the TNAU Botanical Garden, so the insect museum and the garden make a good half-day together. More about the university is in our page on Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
Quick Comparison
| Gass Forest Museum | TNAU Insect Museum | |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | 1902 | 2018 |
| Run by | IFGTB | TNAU, Dept. of Agricultural Entomology |
| Where | Forest College campus, Cowley Brown Road | TNAU campus, Lawley Road |
| Main exhibits | Wildlife specimens, timber and wood samples | Insects, crop pests and beneficial insects |
Visiting Information
- Timings: Both museums are on working institutional campuses, so expect them to follow office-style hours and to close on some holidays. Visitor listings give the Insect Museum's hours as two sessions, late morning and mid-afternoon, Monday to Saturday. Hours change, so confirm with the institution before you go (as of October 2026).
- Entry: Visitor listings report a small entry fee at the Insect Museum; check the current fee at both. School and college groups should write to the institution in advance.
- Getting there: Both are in the western part of the city, reachable by town bus, auto or cab from Gandhipuram or the railway station.
Educational Value
- Learning Resource: Together, the two museums are a valuable platform for students, researchers, and nature enthusiasts, covering forestry, wildlife, entomology and agriculture.
- For children: The Gass museum's animal specimens and the Insect Museum's butterflies and beetles are both popular with school groups.
Significance and Experience
Visiting these museums offers a blend of science, history and wonder. The Gass Forest Museum shows more than a century of forestry in South India, while the Insect Museum shows the small creatures that matter so much to farming. Seeing both on the same day gives children and adults a fuller picture of Coimbatore’s place in forest and farm science.
For more ideas for a day out, see our guide to places to visit in Coimbatore in one day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Gass Forest Museum an insect museum?
No. The Gass Forest Museum (1902) is a forest and wildlife museum run by IFGTB. The Insect Museum is a separate museum at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), opened in 2018.
Where is the insect museum in Coimbatore?
On the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University campus, run by its Department of Agricultural Entomology.
Where is the Gass Forest Museum?
In the Forest College campus on Cowley Brown Road, Coimbatore, which also houses the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy and IFGTB.
Who founded the Gass Forest Museum?
Horace Archibald Gass, Conservator of Forests. It was opened to the public on 15 April 1902.