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Located in the centre 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 AD when King Edward VII visited India
as the Prince of Wales. It was opened to public in 1886 AD.
The various sections represented in the museum are:
(i) Art and Industry (Metal, Wood and Pottery); (ii) Armoury;
(iii) Textiles ; (iv) Carpets ; (v) Paintings;
(vi) Geology; (vii) Zoology; (viii) Botany and
(ix) Toys & Dolls. There is a Persian garden carpet of a
fabulous cost obtained by Mirza Raja Jai Singh I from Shah Abbas of
Persia. It contains various sketches of a Persian garden with running
water streams.
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 and 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 Lohars 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 one of the
chambers of the wing is exhibited puppetry from Rajasthan and 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 instruments, both classical and folk, are displayed in their
functional positions. Specimens include typical folk instruments like
Masak, Kamayacha, Dadh, Madal, Khanjari, Sitari, Bankia, Fungi, Algoja,
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 (like
Holi, Gangaur etc.) and ceremonies (like marriage) are also dioramized in
a lively manner. The museum functions as the State Museum of Rajasthan.
Timing: 10.00 am to 4.30 pm
Closed : Friday and gazetted holidays.