Museum in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is the majestic state speckled with several enormous forts, palaces and temples, acknowledged for their architectural excellence and design. The extensive network of museums in Rajasthan constitute the most admired archaeological sites, and the recently opened museums and art galleries in the palaces of former rulers of old states which help to preserve this great heritage of the state of Rajasthan. Among the most known museums in Rajasthan is the Ajmer Government Museum.

The city of Ajmer is an abode to many forts and tombs portraying the exquisite Mughal architecture, especially the inscriptions on the memorials are of immense historic interest. This government museum in Rajasthan is situated in the heart of the old city of Ajmer. The museum is housed in the charming fort and palace constructed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1570. It was here that the British envoy Sir Thomas Roe met Emperor Jahangir in 1616. After British occupation in 1818 and during the first war of Independence in 1857, it was used as the Rajputana arsenal by the British. The archaeological museum in Ajmer, is one of the known museums in Rajasthan. This museum is located in the Dil-e-Aaram Gardens. 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. An important fact about this museum is that it is divided into three sections.

The Fateh Prakash Palace museum in Chittaurgarh is one big portion of the Palace, which was converted into a museum in 1968. It preserves a massive compilation of sculptures. Amongst the important ones are Ganpati from Pangarh along with Indra and Jain Ambica statues from Rashmi village of Podt medieval period. Inside this museum in Rajasthan many weapons, daggers and armory are also displayed.

The city of Bikaner is speckled with museums like the Fort museum of Junagarh Fort. This Fort museum in Bikaner constitutes an enviable assemblage of antique Rajput weaponry, jade handle daggers, camel hide and inlaid handguns and camel guns. Cold and silver howdahs, jhulas, kis, and a First World War biplane are also on dislay. Other significant objects include a pair of drums belonging to Jamblioji, the saint who forecasted the institution of the dynasty by Rao Bika for 450 years. Photographs and items of personal use by Maharaja Ganga Singh miniatures are also on view. Another museum in Rajasthan is the Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum, which further enhances the legacy of Rajasthan. This museum in Bikaner has some major sections like the Maharaja Ganga Singh Memorial, local arts and crafts section, history, sculpture, terra-cotta and bronzes armory, miniature paintings and folk-arts section.