State Museum, Bhopal
State Museum is a museum in Bhopal. It is located on Shymala Hills, Madhya Pradesh state of India.[1] It is popular for its design and the best art and culture of Madhya Pradesh. The museum holds a very prominent role among the monuments and museums of Bhopal.[2]
History
The State Museum established in the year 1964.[2] It was inaugurated on November 2, 2005. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited during the inauguration of the museum.[3] The building is an architectural marvel. The best of art is represented by the museum and with the culture of the state.[1]
Geography
The museum includes 16 number of different galleries, which has been theme wise categorized.[3] The galleries in the museum showcase some prehistoric articles and fossils including excavated objects, paintings, epigraphs, manuscripts, textiles, royal collection, sculptures, documents, articles associated with the freedom struggle, postal stamps,autographs, miniature paintings, coins, arms and weapons etc.[3]
The archaeological museum is spread across 17 number of different galleries. The first postage stamp of the world ‘The Black Penny’ which was issued in the year 1840 with Queen Victoria's picture on it is also in the collection.[1] The museum also have sculptures, mostly from the period of 8th to 12th century. Black colour grantie Buddha and the Yakshis from about 200 BC is also the part of the sculpture collection.
It also has a collection of more than 80 Jain bronzes which was founded in Dhar district of Malwa in the 12th century. Dhar district is in the western side of Madhya Pradesh. [4] Another highlight of the museum is the collection of stone sculptures, which is from 6th to 10th century. A group of nine rock-cut Buddhist monuments called reproductions of muras is also the part of it. This is vital as majority of the paintings are either lost or barely visible. [4]
Overview
- The State Museum is considered as one of India's best designed museums of Madhya Pradesh. It includes a contemporary building designed to catch natural light as well as wide spaces accessible by ramps.[2] The museum showcases a stimulating form of architecture. Inside the main building, there are 16 themed galleries and each of them prehistoric articles and fossils, paintings, manuscripts, military arms, ancient textiles, currencies and weapons, artifacts of the Royal families as well as articles. It is said that all of them are associated with the India's struggle for freedom.[3]
- The museum also houses reproductions of the Buddhist Bagh Cave paintings that were destroyed as well as 84 numbers of rare Jain-bronze articles from the 8th & 11th century. The museum also contains some miniature paintings which represents the aesthetic and inwrought lifestyle of the people from the old golden times.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "Museums of Bhopal". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- ^ a b c "State Museum Bhopal in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India - get details, & find more attractions to visit nearby". Travalour. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- ^ a b c d e "Department of Archaeology, Archives, and Museums; Government of Madhya Pradesh". web.archive.org. 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- ^ a b "State Museum". Times of India Travel. Retrieved 2021-05-20.