Museum & Art Galleries of Rajasthan
RAJASTHAN - the land of massive forts, sprawling palaces and intricately carved
temples ofcolourful tribes and brave warriors, of unrivalledform of arts and
crafts, unique dance and music traditions, is changing at rapid pace. Its vast
network of Museums in large and small towns, archaeological sites and the recently
opened museums and art galleries in the palaces of erstwhile rulers of old states
help to preserve this great heritage for posterity.
AJMER GOVERNMENT MUSEUM: Situated in the heart of the old city and close
to the railway station the museum is housed in the beautiful fort and palace
built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1570. 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 which gave the name magazine.
ALWAR GOVERNMENT MUSEUM: Housed in the old City Palace, it has 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. The museum
is divided into three major sections, each housed in a big hall.
AMER (JAIPUR) ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM: Located in the Dil-e-Aaram Gardens,
of Amer, the ancient capital of Jaipur, and 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 erstwhile 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. Frequent references of Matsayadesh have been made in the Indian
epic - the Mahabharat. In the epic period, the area around the district of Jaipur,
Alwar and Bharatpur came to be known as Matsayadesh with Virat Nagar as its
capital. 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: 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 d17als
(shields) and inlaid handguns and camel guns. Cold and silver howdahs, jhulas,
kis and a firstworld war biplane are on view. Other important objects include
a pairof drums belonging to jamblioji, the saint who predicted the foundation
of the dynasty by Rao Bika for 450 years. Photographs and items of personal
use by Maharaja Ganga Singh and miniatures are also on view.
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