CALICO MUSEUM OF TEXTILES

(Ahmedabad)

This museum is the only one of its kind in India, having a representative collection of traditional prints and dyes from every centre in this country.

A comprehensive invaluable catalogue of reference has thus been collected of specimens of different fabrics, woven, printed and embroidered in India from the 15th century. The exhibits include costumes actuallly worn by the noblemen: jamas, patkas and the angarakha; Mughal tent encampments and canopies of the 16th century, tapestries, wall hangings and other cloth accessories.

A catalogue of this collection has been prepared by Mr. John Irwin of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Callico Mills premises, outside Jamalpur Gate, Ahmedabad 380022, Tel: 51001; Gram: MUSEUM, Open: 11 a.m. to noon & 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on important Hindu festivals only. Entrance free. Guide services available. Photographing not allowed.

PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM

 

(Bombay estd. 1951)

The seeds of this museum were sown in the 1892 resolution adopted by the Government of India, which purpoted a better organisation of the museum with a view to the promotion of trade and industries of the country. The idea of starting a museum remained dormant until 1905, when the people of Bombay decided to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales by setting up a museum. The Museum was finally opened to the public on 10th Jan. 1922, It has some of the finest sculptures of the Chalukan period. The terracotta figures from Mirpurkhas in Sind of the early fifth century show the classical phase of the Guptas and the sculptures of the Rashtrakuta period from Elephanta, which are replete with strength and noble modelling unknown elsewhere. Similarly, the ivories of the Gupta period are unique. Amongst its decorative art sections are textiles, ivories, collections of European paintings and other decorative arts, the Chinese and Japnese porcelain, ivory and jade are also rich.

Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bombay-100923. Tel: 258300, 258401, Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (July to September) March to June 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (October to February), Closed: Monday, Independence & Republic Days. Entrance: 75 Paise for school children in party accompanied by teacher. Free on Tuesdays.

THE BARODA MUSEUM AND PICTURE GALLERY (Baroda estd. 1894)

Has a spledid collection of bronzes, particualrly the Jain Bronzes from Akola.

Sayaji Park, Baroda 5, Tel: 64645, Open 9.0 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Gazetted holidays. Admission 10 Paise for those above 12 years, free on Saturdays. Guide service. Photograpghy allowed.

INDIAN MUSEUM

(Calcutta, estd. 1814)

Founded by Dr. Nathaniel Wallich, Danish Botanist in 1814 the museum has developed into one of the finest of its kind anywhere in the world. Its enormous collection of Stone Age tools from all over India including those discovered by the Yale-Cambridge Expedition of 1935, and sites from the South are indispensible sources for prehistoric and photo-historic studies. The Kalpadruma capital Sri Lakshmi and the Yakshas from Patna, Stupa railings and the gateway of the Bharhut Stupa and the Gandhara and Pala sculptures are of special interest. There is also a fine collection of Indian coins. The anthropological, geological and zoological specimens are unique.

27, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Calcutta, Tel: 2398554, 234584, 230742, Gram: Imbot. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (March to November) 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. (December to Febuary) Closed: Mondays & important national holidays. Entrance: 25 paise, Fridays free.

 

THE ASUTOSH MUSEUM OF INDIAN ART

(Calcutta, estd. 1937)

This museum has a large and varied collection of terracotta and stone sculptures from Bengal, Mathura and other places. Other items include bronze coins, and palm leaf manuscripts of exceptional interest. Its activities in the field include regular archaeological excavations and explorations in West Bengal and Eastern India, which have led to the discovery of more than a dozen unknown antiquarian sites between the prehistoric and medieval times.

University of Calcutta, Centenary Bldg., Calcutta 700073. Tel: 343014, Gram: Asutosh Museum, Calcutta University. Open 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (Monday to Friday), 10.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Saturday). Closed on Saturdays & University holidays. Admission free. Guide service. Photography allowed with prior permission.

NATIONAL MUSEUM

(Delhi)

The nucleus of this new collection began from and exhibition of Indian antiquities sent to London in 1947. Today it is perhaps the largest single collection of art with representative examples from every museum and from all parts of the country.

Exhibits introduce the visitor to an entire range of Indus Valley pottery from 2000 B.C. to early specimens of copper and bronze, to Buddhist sculpture from the remote stupas of South India and to exquisite ivories in the Greco-Roman style of North India (Begram). The bronze gallery includes Buddha and Jain images of both East and West India as well as Chola bronzes from South India. Outstanding in the Gupta gallery are the life size terracotta figures of the river goddesses and reliefs, narrating scenes from the Mahabharata.

On the Ist floor, the miniature section is rich in Rajput and Pahari paintings. The museum also includes ancient wall paintings and frescoes from places which show the origin of the miniature style.

Of special interest in this museum are the priceless antiquities from Central Asia (Chinese Turkestan) excavated by Sir Aurel Stein which show the Indo-Chinese Buddhist art of Tunghuang; as well as the collection of pre-Columbian art and textiles gifted to the museum.

The museum has put out several publications which are available, as well as plaster casts of some original sculptures.

Janpath, New Delhi. Tel: 385441, Grams; MUSEUM, Open 10 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. Closed on Mondays, Photography allowed on payment of Rs. 2.00.

 

NAYIKA MUSEUM OF THEATRE CRAFTS

(Delhi)

Once again this is the only museum of its kind, having been compiled from a survey of all the existing tradition of theatre crafts in India. The exhibits include authentic masks, costumes, jewellery and theatre props.

A centre has also been set up at Nayika to encourage the industry of making

masks in bamboo and papier mache, shadow puppets in leather and other theatre accessories. Next to the centre is the picturesque palace of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor of India.

RED FORT MUSEUM

(Delhi)

Housed in one of the palace pavilions of the Red Fort, this collection refers only to the Mughal period of Delhi’s history. It includes a good section of armoury and costumes, of firearms and legal documents and a few paintings which recreat the whole ambience of Moghul times in the Red Fort.

Red Fort, Delhi-110005, Tel: 275569. Open on all days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance free. Photography allowed.

CRAFTS MUSEUM

(Delhi)

Housed in a small museum on Janpath is an invaluable collection of folk and tribal crafts. It includes pieces such as the wood carvings of temple chariots as well as ritual vessels in metal, and decorations in cloth and leather. Shapes and designs have an inherent value and purity of form that remain unchanged through the centuries.

Thapar House, 124, Janpath, New Delhi-110001. Tel:311147, Gram: CRAFTIND. Open on all days except National Holidays 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Entrance free.

 

RAIL TRANSPORT MUSEUM

(Delhi)

This sprawling open air museum houses objects pertaining to 124 years of the history of Railways in India. Of special interest are the 114 year old Ramgooty, the 90 year old Maharatta Railway engine, the Prince of Wales Saloon and the viceregal Dining Saloon.

Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Tel: 386335, 611803. April to June 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. & 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Rest of the year: 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Photography allowed.

SALAR JUNG MUSEUM

(Hyderabad, estd. 1951)

The collection of the Salar Jung Museum is mainly the result of the efforts of the late Nawab Salar Jung III, a distinguished member of a remarkable family, who acquired rare and beautiful works of art from all parts of the world. The Salar Jung Museum is divided into two major departments, the Eastern and the Western. It has one of the richest collections of jade and jewellery. Of outstanding importance are the manuscripts, miniature painting, cutglass, Wedgewood and Dresden China and inlaid objects.

Hyderabad 500002, Tel: 43211, Grams: Salarmus, Open 10.00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed: Fridays & Govt. holidays & Salar Jung’s death anniversary. Entrance Re. 1 for adults, 75 paise for children below 12 years. Photography allowed on payment.

THE HYDERABAD MUSEUM

(Hyderabad, estd. 1930)

It has sculptures dating from the Satavanhana period to the time of the Kakatiyas.

THE STATE MUSEUM

(Lucknow, estd. 1863)

It has fabulous Jain sculptures from Kaukalitila. The numismatic section has a large number of punch-marked Gupta and Moghul coins, and valuable manuscripts and paintings.

Banarasi Bagh, Lucknow. Tel: 23107, Gram; STATE MUSEUM, Lucknow. Open 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on Mondays & important National Holidays. Admission 15 paise adults, 10 paise children. Guide service. Photography allowed with prior permission on payment on Rs 2/-.

THE GOVERNMENT MUSEUM

(Madras, estd. 1851)

The Madras Government museum ranks very high amongst the museum of India on account of the wealth of its collection, its manifold intra-mural and extra-mural activities, its research in several fields, the steady stream of publications and the tempo of all-round progress it has been trying to maintain. It is the second-oldest museum in India. Among the stone sculptures of the museum, reliefs from Amravati and other Buddhist sites occupy a place of distinction. The collection of South Indian bronze is the richest in the world. The prehistoric material collected by Bruce Foote is in this museum, as are prehistoric antiquities from various megalithic sites.

Pantheon Road, Egmore, Madras-600008. Tel: 86274 Gram: Government Museum, Madras. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Fridays & National Holidays, Entrance free, Guide service available. Photography allowed with prior permission.

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