Situated
in the heart of old city and close to the railway station the museum is
housed in the beautiful fort and palace built by the Mughal Emperor
Jahagir in 1616. What is today commonly known as Magazine is the palace
quarters where the emperors lived. After the British occupation in 1818
and during the first world war of Independence in 1857 it was used as the
Rajputana Arsenal by the British which gave the name magazine.
The
Museum was started in 1908 by the Government of India with the object of
collecting and preserving many unique objects of antiquarian interest
which were lying uncared for and scattered all over Rajasthan. The
rajputan Museum as it is significantly named, has in its galleries
important exhibits from almost all the princely States. There is a library
attached to his museum which cotains rare books and important historical
publications.
The museum's main sections are devoted to
Sculptuters, epigraphs, Protohistoric antiquities, Arms andWeapons.
Besides, there are objects from Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpara and other exhibits
lying in various godowns forming a large reserve collection. Sculptures
constiture the most interesting section in this Museum. The collection is
enormously rich and varies from periods ranging from the Gupta to the late
Medieval period. Mention should be made here of the interesting Chaturmukh
Shivliga, Marriage of Lord Shiva from Kaman, Lingodbhava Mahesvara from
Harashnath and other fine Shiva-Parvati panels from Katara (Bharatpur) and
Kusma (Sirohi).
There are a number of surya ,vishnu (including a
trimurty) Hari Hara lakshmi-Narayan, revanta, kuber and Mother & child
images in the collection. Of the female divinities the saptamatrikas,
Mahisasur-Mardini, Kali, jain saraswati and early independent icon of
various mother goddesses deserve special mention. An execellant collection
of sculptures from the Chauhan centre of Baghera (10th 12th A.D.) in Ajmer
District, are also preserved here. A fine collection of Tirthankara images
and rare images of Gomukha Yaksha and Saraswati are also on display in the
Jain gallery of this Museum. Compared with this there are only a few
Buddhist objects in the Museum.
The artistic genius and
wonderful craftsmenship of ancient Rajasrthan, are reflected in the vast
collection of the Museum. (ii) The Epigraphical exhibits which number
about one hundred, are unsurpassed in many respects. Of special interest
among then are : Brahmi inscription from Barli (assignable to circa 2nd
century B.C.) Inscribed slab from Nagari. Samoli Inscription of Siladitya.
Jodhpur Inscription of Bauka. Pratapgarh Inscription of Mahendrapala II.
Two slabs inscribed with the Drama Harakeli Nataka from
Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra. Slab containing drama Lalita Vigraharaj Nataka by
somodeva also from Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra. Barla inscription of Prithiviraja
Chauhan III. (iii) A number of important copper plate grants add to the
value of rich collection of museum. They include. Two copper plates of
Maharaj Sarvanatha of Uchchhakapla (437-38 A.D. refferring to Kalachuri
Era). Daulatpura copper plateof partihar Bhojadeva. Twocopperplates form
Banswara (forming one grant of the Paamar King Bhojadeva. Ciopper plate of
Rana Kumbhja of Mewar.
Of the early coins, there are punch
marked,Sibi-Janpada, Indo-Greekm Indo Sassanian, Kushan and gupta coins
preserved in the coin cabinet of this Museum.This also contains coins of
the Rajp8ut rulers and also contains coins of this museum.This also
contains coins of the Rajput rulers and also of the mughal and pathan
rulers. V Pintins section contains more than oa hudred exhibits, including
a dozen rare Chief, Birbal, A Muslim Prince and Farrukshyar deserve
mention. These paintings copies only ) depict well known Rajput Kings.
Timing : 10 A.M. to 4.30 P.M.
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