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14 Museums and Art Galleries in Jaipur You Should Check Out

Welcome to the vibrant world of artistic expression at these exquisite art gallery in Jaipur, India’s captivating Pink City. Embark on a journey through the rich tapestry of Rajasthani culture. From the intricate detailing of traditional Rajput paintings to the avant-garde innovations of contemporary artists, these galleries showcase a kaleidoscope of visual delights. If you consider yourself an intrepid explorer of aesthetic wonders, join these famous art gallery in Jaipur as they celebrate the timeless allure of creativity against the backdrop of Jaipur’s majestic heritage.

Albert Hall Museum

Albert Hall Museum or the Government Central Museum is the oldest state museum in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It also acts as the headquarters of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, established in 1950. The architect, Samuel Swinton Jacob designed the building in the Indo-Saracenic style. It is named after King Edward VII (Albert Edward). On February 6, 1876, the building’s foundation stone was placed. The Albert Hall Museum was opened to the public in 1887. Colonel Tomas H. Hendley was the curator of the collection, who sought to preserve the local art and craft of Rajasthan.

Courtesy – Daily Guardian

He amassed a collection of 19,000 items, which included armour and weaponry, sculpture, and art from countries like Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Hungary, Germany, and Austria, as well as musical instruments, ivory, woodwork, and stone carvings. The Egyptian mummy is the star of the Albert Hall Museum. The Albert Hall Museum is divided into several collections, with the pottery section being the largest. The museum is home to an extensive collection of objects, which includes jewellery, paintings, carpets, stone, ivory, metal, and crystal sculptures. Coins from the Gupta, Kushan, Delhi Sultanate, Mughal, and British eras are included in their collection. 

Courtesy – Jaipur Tourism

Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum

The Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum is housed in the City Palace, Jaipur, a royal residence. The construction began under the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The construction of the City Palace began in 1727 and finished in 1732 designed by Vidyadar Bhattacharya. The venue was the centre for arts, business, commerce, religious, and cultural gatherings. It amalgamates the aspects of Rajput and Mughal architecture while adhering to vastushastra. The royal throne and a traditional durbar setting can be seen at the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. Along with lavish decorations, murals, and a chandelier, the wall is lined with pictures of the rulers of Rajasthan. The Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh wedding gowns are displayed at the textile gallery. A rare pashmina carpet and the royal polo and pool suits are also kept.

Courtesy – Indo Vacations

There are swords from the early 19th century with ornate handles in the ‘Sileh Khana’ or the Arms and Armours Gallery. It also has shields, chainmail armour, and elaborate helmets. The newest Painting and Photography Gallery features images and artwork from Jaipur in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Currently, the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum houses about 3,000 paintings. These consist of original paintings by the Mughals and Deccani artists, paintings from other Rajput kingdoms, paintings of religious and secular subjects, illustrated manuscripts, small- and large-scale portraits, nature studies, and collages made with paper cuts. The 1,941 glass plate negatives, 6,050 photographic prints, and photography equipment make up the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum’s photography collection. This assortment spans the years 1860 through 1950.

Courtesy – Jaipur Beat

Jawahar Kala Kendra

The Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) is a multi-media arts centre. The Government of Rajasthan constructed it to conserve Rajasthani handicrafts. Eight blocks make up JKK, which includes a museum, a cafeteria, a small hostel, an amphitheatre, a closed auditorium, a library, and art studios. Along with its annual theatre festival, it also has three other galleries and two permanent art galleries. Charles Correa created the design in 1986. The building was completed in 1992. Jawahar Kala Kendra’s architecture is based on the ancient Indian concept of ‘Vastu Purush Mandala.’ The museum, housed on the ‘Budha’ block, features a collection of jewellery, photographs, musical instruments, and miniature paintings. Other artefacts are kept on the ‘Ketu’ block including a highly valued antique carriage. There are also traditional terracotta wall panels and wooden statues on display. ‘Shani’ is home to famous art gallery in Jaipur like ‘Sukriti,’ ‘Surekh,’ ‘Parijat,’ and ‘Chaturdik.’

Courtesy – STIRworld

Dolls Museum

Housed within the premises of the Albert Hall Museum is the Dolls Museum or ‘Gudiya Ghar.’ The Bhagwai Bai Sekhsaria Charity Trust constructed this unique museum, inaugurating it on 7 April 1979. It features dolls in different sizes, styles, and genres. The Indian dolls are dressed in traditional attire, wedding gowns, dance costumes, and daily clothes. Dolls showcasing dance styles such as Kathakali, Odissi, Bharatnatyam, and Kuchipudi are available. Traditional Japanese dolls such as Kokeshi dolls, Tanabata dolls, Kamakura dolls, Namahage Dolls, and Kanto Matsuri dolls are made with wood. A few dolls in the Dolls Museum are constructed from paper and whale teeth. Dolls from Peru, Mexico, Mongolia, Uganda, Norway, Turkey, Italy, Afghanistan, Sweden, America, Germany, Malaysia, and others, are displayed. The Dolls Museum also features dolls dressed as kids’ favourite superheroes, cartoon characters, and other characters.

Courtesy – Thrillophilia

Anokhi Museum

The craft of hand-block printing is the focus of the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, a private museum. The founders of ‘Anokhi;’ Pritam Singh and Rachel Bracken-Singh, an Indian retail brand of block-printed clothing, launched the museum in 2005. The museum is located in the 16th-century mansion; ‘The Anokhi Haveli,’ formerly ‘Chanwar Palkiwalon ki Haveli.’ Parul Zaveri and Nimish Patel oversaw the restoration process. Stephane Paumier, a French architect, created the Anokhi Museum’s interior. The museum features myriad modern clothing materials, from unique designs to uncommon traditional gowns. The Anokhi Museum Archives features a selection of 1970s-era apparel and home furnishings. The Ajrakh dying technique and the Balota village clothing are displayed. The collection also consists of coats and jackets, ‘bichaunis’ or bedcovers, and tools such as drills, chisels, and wooden and iron blocks.

Courtesy – The Wandering Yak

Amrapali Museum

The Amrapali Museum showcases ornamental pieces and jewellery from India. It was inaugurated on January 20, 2018. Rajiv Arora and Rajesh Ajmera, the creators of Amrapali Jewels, founded the museum. There are 4,000 items in its collection. The various forms of Indian jewellery at the Amrapali Museum serve as a visual chronicle of art history and the jewellery-making process. The collection includes silver and gold pieces and tribal jewellery made of metal and wood. Certain pieces were used in everyday life by tribal communities, while others belonged to royal families or adorned deities in temples.  Men’s jewellery and luxury goods are also showcased.

Courtesy – Conde Nast Traveller India

Gyan Museum

The Gyan Museum builds upon the collection of the late Gyan Chand Ji Dhaddha, a gemologist, naturalist, and collector. Currently, the museum is home to over 2500 outstanding pieces of art, both foreign and Indian. It features textiles, paintings, metalwork, silver hookahs, vintage spectacles, jewellery, paintings from the 17th century and beyond, and rare inscriptions. Gyan Museum offers a variety of watches, clocks, eyeglasses, and stylish eyewear. The arms collection of the Gyan Museum includes weapons from the 17th century, including ceremonial knives, daggers, arrows, guns, shields, armour, and adorned sword hilts. Miniature paintings, illustrated manuscripts, and embroidered textile scrolls are all part of the collection. The collection of coins includes pieces from the Hoysala, Vijaynagara, and Mauryan empires.

Courtesy – Gyan Museum

Pratap Celebrity Wax Museum Jaipur

You can explore extraordinarily lifelike, highly detailed wax statues of historical events and celebrities at the Pratap Celebrity Wax Museum Jaipur. Realistic depictions of famous people include Salman Khan, Messi, Bruce Lee, Katrina Kaif, Harry Potter, Sachin Tendulkar, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Mr Bean, Jackie Chain, and Mother Teresa. So take out your cameras and visit the Pratap Celebrity Wax Museum Jaipur.

Courtesy – Tripadvisor

Museum of Legacies

The Museum of Legacies is housed in a building built in 1823 to serve as Pandit Shivdeen’s home. It was the location of an art school starting in 1857. It was refurbished by Smart City and opened as the Museum of Legacies on December 9, 2017. It is a prime example of the adaptive reuse of heritage architecture. The collection includes paintings, fabrics, jewellery, ceramics, inlay pieces, and photographs.  Among the noteworthy items in the Museum of Legacies’ collection is the marble jali crafted by skilled sculptor Dalchand Jatar. The Sudhir Kasliwal gallery features pictures of men and women wearing antique silver ornaments. Every Rajasthani district’s textiles and traditional clothing are displayed at Brij Bhasin’s Gallery of Textiles. The Jaipur Central Jail created abstract, modern dhurrie designs for it as well.

Courtesy – Sahapedia

Gallery Artchill

Gallery Artchill is a modern and contemporary famous art gallery in Jaipur housed in the west wing of the 16th-century Amber fort. It opened as Juneja Art Gallery in 1995. A wide variety of multidimensional and multimedia art is displayed in Gallery Artchill’s ten sections, including paintings, sculptures, reliefs, 3D art, photos, videos, graphics, and exclusive miniatures. It features a permanent section showcasing the artwork of artists such as Vinit Dasgupta, Arpana Caur, Surjit Akre, Nikhil Bhandari, and more.

Courtesy – Tripadvisor

Mool Foundation

The Mool Foundation was founded in October 2014 to introduce art and design into the public’s life and unite all art forms under one roof. Mr Y. K. Bhatt designed the collective’s location. Mool Foundation brings together artists from Jaipur who work in calligraphy, pen and ink, paper mache, automotive art, photography, and culinary arts.

Courtesy – WhatsHot Jaipur

Gemstone Ganesh Museum

The 250-year-old heritage building that houses the Gemstone Ganesh Museum features elaborate Arayash architecture and frescoes. The museum is Dinesh Bhargava’s collection of Ganesha idols and paintings, which opened its doors in 2016. The Gemstone Ganeshas are the museum’s main attraction, as the name implies. Each of these life-size natural gemstones is carved from a single rock.  The Gemstone Ganesh Museum collection consists of more than forty idols that weigh a ton apiece and are carved from gemstones like tourmaline, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. The idols each have a different iconography and are dressed in different mudras. The ‘panchmukhi,’ or five-headed Ganesha, carved in sapphires and emeralds, and the ‘trinetra,’ or three-eyed Ganesha, are particularly striking pieces. The two art galleries are home to mostly oil and gemstone-powder paintings depicting Ganesha’s life.

Courtesy – Gemstone Ganesh Museum via Facebook

The Sculpture Park at Madhavendra Palace

The Sculpture Park at Madhavendra Palace is India’s first public sculpture park featuring contemporary art, and it was opened as a not-for-profit initiative in December 2017. Peter Nagy came up with the idea. The Sculpture Park at Madhavendra Palace builds micro and macro, local and international communities and promotes conversation about the arts by using culture as an engine for development, job creation, education, tourism, and growth.

Courtesy – MASH India

S R C Museum Of Indology

In 1960, Acharya Ram Charan Sharma founded the S R C Museum of Indology. The collection is organized into twelve main departments. Some of the artefacts on display at the S R C Museum of Indology include a complete copy of the Bhagavad Gita written on a tiny piece of paper, a coloured map of India drawn on a grain of rice, ancient astronomical instruments, English crockery, the Quran written by Aurangazeb, weapons, coins from the 7th and 8th century, old and prehistoric tools, paintings from the Mughal and Rajput eras, drawings of Indian architecture, fossilized eggs, meteorites, floating stone, and flexible stone, paintings on serpentology, over 15,000 manuscripts, both illustrated and not, written on paper, birch bark, palm leaf, and cardamom rind, Tantric art, and alchemically related herbs are all on display.

Courtesy – India Travelite

Image Courtesy – Incredible India

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