Museums are considered as a heritage of humanity and to raise awareness on the importance of museums, the world celebrates International Museum Day, every year on the 18th May. It won’t be incorrect to say that museums are closest to what can be call time travel. Museums help in tracing the entire history of a country’s journey from prehistoric to modern times.
The historical significance of many tourist spots in and around the city of Jaipur has put the city on the world map. One of the key tourist attractions of the Pink City is its multiple museums, which contain artifacts and many pieces of art and sculpture of immeasurable value and significance.
On this note, let’s get started with a virtual tour of some famous museums of Jaipur –
1. Albert Hall Museum – The foundation for the building started in 1876, when the Prince of Wales visited Jaipur and lies within Ram Niwas Garden. In 1881, the museum was at its prime beauty and people from across the country visited this museum to buy or enjoy handicrafts, artwork and other masterpieces. This museum provides an exclusive collection of artifacts, objects, and other art forms. There are 16 galleries inside the museum like metal arts, arms & armor, pottery, miniature paintings, clay works, international art, jewellery, ivory among others. Bordered by verdant gardens, the museum is a sight to behold.
2. The City Palace Museum – The City Palace served as the administrative seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur till 1949. A part of the palace was converted into a museum during the time of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II in 1959. It is spread across multiple courtyards serving different purposes. The famous galleries of the museum are Sabha Niwas (hall of audience), textile gallery, Sileh Khana (Arms and Armour), painting & photography, and transport gallery. Despite Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, you’ll also see the influences of Hindu Temples.
3. Dolls Museum – Located at a distance of 4 kilometers from the city centre, the museum was built in the year 1974 with a definite purpose. It mainly serves the purpose of reflecting the different cultures of the world. The variety of attires worn by dolls reflects the culture of provinces like Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujrat, Punjab, Kerala etc. Clad in national attires of different countries, the dolls offer a mesmerizing experience to the tourists and reflect different cultures prevalent across the world.
4. Jaipur Wax Museum – Situated in a heritage palace of Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur, Jaipur Wax Museum exhibits wax and silicon statues of iconic personalities from diverse fields such as history, cinema, sports, literature, art, and culture. The museum is divided into three galleries namely the Hall of Icons, Royal Darbar, and Sheesh Mahal. Hall of Icons has statues of personalities like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Kaplana Chawla, Amitabh Bachchan, Mahatma Gandhi, Sachin Tendulkar, Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama. The Royal Darbar is decorated with enchanting paintings that depict the rich heritage of Rajasthan. This courtroom displays paintings with pure gold motifs and wax statues of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh and Rajmata Gayatri Devi. Sheesh Mahal has been designed into a magnificent mirror work splendor. It has traditional thikri mirror work and displays approximately 2.5 million glass pieces to create an optical illusion. The museum also houses a souvenir shop.
5. Jawahar Kala Kendra – It was designed in 1986 by acclaimed Indian architect Charles Correa and was built by the Rajasthan government with the purpose of preserving Rajasthani arts and crafts. It houses two permanent art galleries & three other galleries, and hosts its own theatre festival each year. The centre has been made in eight blocks housing museums, theatres, library, cafeteria, arts display room, and hostel. The centre is frequently occupied with artists and arts-loving people. Many exhibitions and performances by local artists are displayed at the centre.
6. Hawa Mahal Museum – Built in 1983 and located just behind the Jaipur signature monument Hawa Mahal adjoining with Pratap Mandir, Hawa Mahal Museum is an interesting place to visit. Hawa Mahal Museum comprises unique sculptural heritage which is collected from Ganeshwar, Virat Nagar, Raid, Sambhar and Nagar and exhibition things are terracotta, antiquities, fish hooks, arrow heads, swords, helmets and belongings of the Maharajas of Jaipur.
7. Jewels Lake Palace – Jewels Lake Palace is a venture by professionals who are engaged in synchronizing the vast panorama of traditional fine arts and crafts of Rajasthan with the present-day modern world. It is a museum-cum-shop that houses a vast range of jewels from various historical periods.
https://www.jewelslakepalace.com/
8. Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing – Anokhi Museum houses the world’s best block painting garments and is a cultural endeavor of Anokhi clothing brand. It is a must-visit for all the craft & block print lovers. Holding a UNESCO certification, his museum exhibits the oldest art form of Rajasthani art at its very best. Detailed explanation about every cloth is mentioned along with the quality of fabric and various other details. the Museum organizes various educational programs and workshops to focus on various aspects of this ancient craft. There are various demonstrations related to block carving, printmaking, and block carving.
Happy International Museum Day!!
Jaipur Beat 