Visitors
passing through Alwar en route to the Sariska wildlife sanctuary must
visit Alwar Museum with its fine collection of an objects, paintings,
manuscripts and armoury. Housed in a few rooms at the City Palace, the
museum presents to the public part of the state's collection put together
by the Naruka rulers from all over the region as well as from distant
France and China. One of the most famous pieces is a dininp, table in
solid'silver which'gives the illusion of brightly coloured fish floating
in a water channel which runs around the table.
The museum once
possessed a remarkable library. Today part of the collection has been
given to the Oriental Research Institute, also in the City Palace. Of
special interest are the sections on paintings and manuscripts. Some
admirable pieces are a copy of Gulistan or Rose Garden written in 1258, an
ancient copy of the Mahabharata written on a singe page some 73m long and
the Karima inscribed with a finger nail. An exquisitely illustrated 73 m
long paper scroll that can be read only with a magnifying glass is famous.
There are some paintings of Mughal and 19th century Alwar schoolstyle.
Government Museum
City Palace, Alwar
Timing:
10.00 am to 5.00 pm