Albert Hall Museum Jaipur

Albert Hall Museum or the Central Museum, sited amid the gardens of Ram Niwas Bagh in Jaipur, is one of the oldest museums in the state of Rajasthan. The Albert Hall Museum is modeled on the Albert Museum of London and represents the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.

Location- The museum is housed in Ram Niwas Bagh in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

History- This museum was designed by Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob in 1876 for the purpose of greeting King Edward VII, Prince of Wales on his visit to India.

After ten years, it was opened to the public. Since 1969, the galleries on the ground floor of the museum have been thoroughly rebuilt and remodeled.

Displays- Thus museum exhibits a rare collection of ancient stuffs including miniature paintings, carpets, metal and wood crafts, toys, dolls, arms and weapons and an Egyptian mummy belonging to the Ptolemaic Era. The most extraordinary of them is the carpet that depicts the scene of a Persian garden with gushing streams. This carpet was bought by Mirza Raja Jai Singh I at a dear price from Shah Abbas of Persia.

The galleries on the ground floor of the museum display various jewelry and dresses that belong to the people of all sections of the society of Rajasthan. Thus there is an exhibition of the apparels of the privileged class consisting of the Rajputs and the wealthy merchants and the also the garments of the varied tribes of Rajasthan including the Bhils, Meenas, Bhopas, Gadoliya and Lohars. While walking through this gallery one can have an insight of the culture and lifestyle of the Rajasthani tribes.

One gallery of this museum is dedicated entirely to the illustrious henna body art of Rajasthan art and this gallery is known as 'Mehndi Mandana'. This gallery exhibits the typical Rajasthani patterns and motifs that are uniquely considered as ethnic throughout the world.

Another gallery displays the puppets and the Phad paintings (portraiture of the life of a folk hero of Marwar -Pabuji Rathore in painted scrolls).

However the central gallery exhibits the Rajasthani music and dance forms, which is a must see in the museum.

Timings- It is open from Saturday to Thursday and closed on Friday.

Last Updated on 01 December 2011