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Museums
and Galleries
Though the glorious art of Rajasthan is fading away,
the museums and art galleries of Rajasthan showcase the colourful
past. Witnessing the massive forts, huge palaces and intricately
carved temples of colourful tribes and brave warriors, of
unrivalled form of arts and crafts, unique dance
and music traditions becomes a breathtaking experience. Its
vast network of Museums in large and small towns, archaeological
sites and the recently opened museums and art galleries in
the palaces of former rulers of old states have preserved
this great heritage.
Ajmer Government Museum :
This museum is housed in the beautiful fort and palace built
by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1570. It is centrally
located and close to the railway station It was here that
the British envoy Sir Thomas Roe met Emperor Jahangir
in 1616. What is today commonly known as Magazine is the palace
quarters where the emperors lived. After British occupation
in 1818 and during the first war of Independence in 1857 it
was used as the Rajputana arsenal by the British who
named it as magazine.
Alwar Government Museum: Housed in the old City
Palace, the museum is divided into three vast sections, each
housed in a big hall displaying a unique collection of arms,
bidri work, lacquered and ivory work, musical instruments,
stuffed animals, beautiful brass and pottery works from Jaipur,
Multan, Bengal and Ceylon, miniature paintings and Persian
and Sanskrit manuscripts.
Amer (Jaipur) Archeological Museum: This museum
is located in the Dil-e-Aaram Gardens, of Amer, the ancient
capital of Jaipur. It was established in 1949. Prior to this,
the excavated material from Rairh, Bairat, Sambhar, Nagar
etc. and the sculptures and epigraphs collected from various
sites in the former Jaipur State were housed at Vidyadhar
Gardens in Purana Chat. In July 1949 the entire collection
was transferred to Dil-e-Aaram Garden, a part of the old palace
at Amer. An Art Gallery was inaugurated in 1992 in this complex.
The museum is divided into three sections.
Bairat Virat Nagar Museum :
Virat Nagar was the capital of the legendary Matsayadesli.
The museum, although not very large has the richest collection.
The excavated material like potteries, pikkins, old
coins, seals, metallic pieces, weapons and statues are exhibited
here.
Bharatpur Covernaient Museum :
Museum is located in the centre of the famous Lohagarh Fort,
the Bharatpur Museum houses a rich collection of archaeological
wealth of the nearby areas as from the old Bharatpiir State.
The huge palatial building Kachahari Kalan,
once the administrative block of the rulers of Bharatpur state,
was converted into a Museum in 1944. Lateron, the Kamra Khas
(personal chamber) building on the first floor was added to
the museum. It exhibits sculptures found during the excavation
of old villages e.g. Noh, Mailah, Bareh, Bayana etc.
ranging from the Kuslian period. Fort Museum, Junagarh Fort,
Bikaner : Ganga Mahal, the imposing halls added by Maharaja
Gailga Singh, now houses the Fort Museum. It contains a fine
collection of antique Rajput weaponry, jade handle
daggers, camel hide (shields) and inlaid handguns and camel
guns. Gold and silver howdahs, jhulas, kis and a First World
War biplane can be seen here. Other important objects include
a pair of drums belonging to Jamblioji, the saint who predicted
the foundation of the dynasty by Rao Bika for 450 years.
Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum, Bikaner : Established
near the Lailgarh Palace in 1937 on the eve of the Golden
Jubilee Celebrations of Maharaja Gaiiga Singh this
Museum is now run by the Government of Rajasthan. In 1954,
it was shifted to a new building in the Civil Lines. Some
principal sections of the museum are:
Maharaja Ganga Singh Memorial section displays local
Arts and Crafts, History, Sculpture, Terracotta and Bronzes
Armory, Miniature Paintings and Folk-Arts Dr. L.P. Tessitori
Memorial Section displays litho prints of the British Interpretation
of the war of Independence 1857.
 Chittaurgarh
- Fateh Prakash Palace Museum : Historical Chittaurgarh
Fort also known as Fateh Prakash Palace was converted into
a museum in 1968. It has a great collection of sculptures.
Amongst the important ones are Ganpati (8-9th century)
from Pangarh, Indra and Jain Ambica statues from Rashmi village
of mediaeval period.
Dungarpur Museum : A newly
constructed museum named 'Rajmata Devendra Kunwar State Museum
and Cultural Centre, Dungarpur' was opened to public in 1988.
The sculpture gallery of the museum throws light on the history
of Vagad Pradesh that was spread over the present areas
of Dungarpur, Banswara and Tehsil Kherwara of Udaipur district.
Albert Hall Museum : Located
in the centre of the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, this is the
oldest Museum in the State. It was built in 1876 when King
Edward VII visited India as the Prince of Wales. It was
opened to public in 1886.
Modern Art Gallery / Ram Niwas Bagh
: A small gallery in the first floor of the Ravindra
Manch Auditorium shows a selection of works by the well known
modern artists and sculptors of Rajasthan.
Hawa Mahal Museum - Jaipur :
Just behind the beautiful Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) in
the adjoining Partap Mandir, a museum was setup in
the year 1983. The museum showcases the sculptural heritage
from Ganeshwar, Virat Nagar, Raid, Sambhar and Nagar.
Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum,
Jaipur : Located within the City Palace Complex
and nested amidst old buildings, temples and the palace quarters,
this museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh
II. It exhibits ancestral collections built up by the
successive rulers of Amer and Jaipur.
 Jaisalamer
Folklore Museum :A well organised museum is divided
into six sections. It has a rich collection of paintings,
photographs, costumes, hairstyles and jewellery, utility
articles of rural life, camel and horse decorations, fossils,
ornamental arches, as well as articles connected with folk
and cultural lifestyles.
Government Museum : The
Govt. museum in Jaisalmer is situated on Police Line Road
near Moomal Hotel. It was opened in 1984. It houses
a large collection of wood and marine fossils and gives an
insight into the geological past of the area. Sculptures from
the ancient townships of Kiradu and Lodurva dating
back to the 12th century depict the skill and grace of the
time.
Government Museum : It
is situated in the old Garh Palace near Bhawani Natya Shala.
The sculptures and architectural fragments of the 8th century
city of the Chandravati and sculptures and epigraphs
from the Jhalrapatan region are displayed in its galleries.
Government Museum : Located in the Umaid
gardens on High Court Road, it has a large and fairly interesting
collection. There are many stuffed animal, including a number
of desert birds. The military section includes cumbersome
wooden biplane models and an extraordinary brass battleship.
Mehrangarh Fort Museum :
An excellent museum with rare and interesting artifacts, textiles,
paintings, transport items etc. laid out with utmost care
and thought. The Palanquin and Howdah Galleries display
a superb collection of old and costly specimens of great historical
value.
 Umaid
Bhawan Palace Museum: The ruling family of Jodhpur
has recently converted a part of the gigantic Umaid Bhawan
Palace as a palace museum. Items on display are rare collection
of rocks, watches, fine china, ornate mirrored furniture,
glass and crystal ware, photographs etc.
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