Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal: A Sneak Peek Into Rajasthan’s Rich Culture

The state works on the philosophy of 'Padharo Mhare Desh', which means - Welcome to my Land.

Rajasthan, the vibrant, colourful and culturally rich state in India, is known for its colour-coded cities, heroic stories, forts, palaces and rich and long history of heroism, royalty and honour. The state works on the philosophy of ‘Padharo Mhare Desh’, which means – Welcome to my Land. Thus, it can be considered a ‘travellers’ destination’.

Moreover, Rajasthan’s culture can be experienced in all nooks and corners of the state. Be it Rajsthani Pagari, Ghaghra-Choli, puppetry, folklore, classical music or art, one can experience everything just by walking through the streets because Rajasthan lives in every Rajasthani (residents of Rajasthan).

But if you are eager to learn more about the place, you must visit the Bhartiya Lok Kala Kendra. It is an institution where you can end your quest to discover more about the culture and art of the state.

Let’s know more about the Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal:

Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal was founded in 1952 by Padma Shri Devilal Samar in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Throughout his life, he wrote several books on Rajasthan’s cultural heritage. He is also the one who organised India’s first puppet festival.

The sole aim of establishing this not-for-profit organisation was to preserve the Marwar region’s rich folk culture, consisting of parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Besides showcasing the state’s rich history and culture of the state it also trains people in puppetry: folk and tribal dance, and music.

Things to do at Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal

  • Bhartiya Lok kala Museum

The Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal complex has the Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum. It consists of a unique range of traditional artefacts, jewellery, ornaments, costumes, folk musical instruments, miniature paintings, icons of local deities, masks, the history of Mewari turbans, antiques and crafts collected over 65 years.

  • Govind Puppet Theatre

It also houses the Govind Puppetry theatre, which conducts regular puppetry and folk dance shows. Sinhasan Battisi, Ram Leela and Raas Leela are famous puppetry plays performed here.

  • Training and Development

To fulfil its aim of preserving the folk culture of the Mewar region, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal trains children, teachers and art enthusiasts in puppetry. Folk and tribal dance and music are also taught to young women.

Ticket Price of Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal

The ticket price for Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal is as follows:

Event Timings Ticket Price

 Criteria Price

Puppet and Folk Dance: 12.00 pm to 1.00 pm, 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm, and 7.15 pm to 8.15 pm Indian ₹120/-

Students ₹60/-

Foreigners ₹180/-

Lok Kala Museum 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Indian ₹60/-

Students ₹25/-

Foreigners ₹120/-

Combo Ticket 

 Indian ₹170/-

Students ₹260/-

 Timings of Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal

The Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal remains open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm on all days of the week.

Address of Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal

Panchwati, Chetak Circle, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001

Phone Number of Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal

+91 294 2529296

+91 294 2560891

How to reach Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal (BLKM)?

You can reach Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal in the following ways:

By Air 

The nearest airport to Udaipur is Maharana Pratap Airport. It is connected to all major cities of India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Jaipur. Take local transportation to reach the place.

By Train 

The city of Udaipur has a well-connected railway network. Trains from all major cities of the nation stop here. Mewar Express, Gwalior-Udaipur Express, Chetak Express, etc., are some popular trains with a stoppage in Udaipur. Private and Public transport can be taken from here to reach BLKM.

By Road

Udaipur also has a vast road network. National Highway number 8 connects Mumbai and Delhi. Moreover, many public and private bus services are available to and from Jaipur, Indore, Kota, Ahmedabad, Delhi and other major cities in India. One can either drive or hire a cab also to reach here.

For more information, visit- www.lokkalamandal.com