Restored Avatihalli Railway Station to Host New Silk Museum Near Bengaluru

The historic Avatihalli railway station, located north of Bengaluru, is set to open a new museum dedicated to the origin and production of silk. Restored in October 2022 by the Bengaluru chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the station is one of four heritage sites along the KSR Bengaluru-Chikaballapur-Kolar line revitalized through private funding. The Story of Silk Museum, scheduled to open to the public on April 19, 2026, aims to connect visitors with the local silk industry, which employs thousands in nearby villages. Exhibits include models of silkworm life cycles, traditional rearing tools like the chandranki, vintage Mysore Domestic Basin reeling machines, and AR-enabled displays. INTACH convenor Meera Iyer emphasized the goal of highlighting the human effort behind silk production, noting that Karnataka produces nearly half of India’s mulberry silk. The project, initiated in 2021, ensures the preserved buildings remain active community assets rather than falling into disuse, celebrating a fabric deeply ingrained in Indian culture and traditions.