Museums & Art
Galleries
Dolls Museum: Pretty dolls from various countries are on
display in the compound of the school for deaf and dumb children,
near the Police Memorial.
BM Birla Planetarium: The planetarium offers unique
audio-visual education and entertainment with its modern
computerized projection system. For school groups concessions are
available. Closed on last Wednesday of every month.
Government Central Museum: Located in the center of the
sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, this is the oldest museum in the state.
The building was designed by colonel Sir Swinton Jacob. It was
built in 1876 when king Edward VII visited India as the Prince of
Wales. It was opened to public in 1886 there is also an Egyptian
mummy belonging to the Ptolemaic Epoch. There are miniature
paintings of various sub-schools of Rajasthan. A glimpse of the
land the people of Rajasthan is presented through well planned
dioramas. From 1959 onwards the various galleries along the ground
floor of the museum were completely reorganized and renovated.
People of Rajasthan, (both males and females) from the higher
strata of society, such as Rajputs and seths as well as the common
tribal people like Meenas, Bhopas, Bhils, Gadoliya Lohar etc. find
depiction here in their typical dresses and ornaments. Typical
designs and motifs in Mehndi Mandana, so characteristic of
Rajasthani ladies, are also highlighted in the gallery. In the
antechamber of wing is exhibited puppetry from Rajasthan & the
painted scroll delineating the scenes from pabuji Rathore's life,
a great folk hero from Marwar. The central gallery is devoted to
Rajasthani music and dance. Original musical instrument, both
classical and folk, are displayed in their functional positions.
Specimens include typical folk instruments like Masak, Kama, Yacha,
Dadh, Madal, Khanjari, Satari, Bankia, Pungi, Alogoja, Iktara etc.
the dances illustrated in the gallery include classical ones like
kathak for which Jaipur Gharana is famous, as well as popular folk
dances such as Dandia, Ghoomar Holi etc. festivals & ceremonies
(like marriage) are also dioramized in a lively manner. The museum
functions as the State Museum of Rajasthan.
Modern Art Gallery: A small gallery in the first floor of
Ravindra Manch Auditorium shows a selection of works by the well
known modern artists and sculptors of Rajasthan.
Museum of Indology: Created and established by Acharya Ram
Charan Sharma "vyakul" in 1960, the museum has a collection of
folk and Tantra art. The eighteen sections of this three storied
private museum include old manuscripts and archives, thematic folk
art of India, Indian textile designs, Tantrik paintings and
yantras, glass and pottery items, minerals, gems and fossils etc.
making it one of the finest museum of Rajasthan.
Hawa Mahal Museum: Just behind the beautiful Hawa Mahal
(Palace of winds) in the adjoining Partap Mandir, a Museum was set
up in the year 1983. Preserved here is the sculptural heritage
collected from Ganeshwar. Virat Nagar, Raid, Sambhar and Nagar.
Exhibits include items of terracotta. Antiquities, fish hooks,
arrow heads, swords, helmets and belongings of the maharajas of
Jaipur. A big storage vessel of 2nd century AD obtained during
excavation at Naliasar (Sambhar) draws the attention of visitors.
Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum: Located within the city
palace complex and nestled amidst old buildings, temples and the
palace quarters, this museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Swai
Man Singh II.
The exhibits consist of the ancestral collections built up by the
successive rulers of Amer & Jaipur, and presently run by a public
charitable trust. A small selection of paintings, manuscripts,
weapons and armours was displayed in the Pothikhana (library) and
the Silehkhana or armoury (both of these in their present form
were established in 1952) of the palace. However, the collection
remained exclusive and was shown only to selective visitors and
dignitaries with the special permission of the Maharaja. In 1959,
this private museum consisting of the Pothikhana and the
Silehkhana was thrown open to public and a new Textile and costume
gallery was added to it. |