Read More on Archaeological Museum
History
The State Museum was founded in 1909 AD under the state ownership of Bhopal and was administered under the appellation of Ajayabghar at the current central archive structure. The exhibition was relocated to a tower on Banganga Road and renamed Bhopal Museum once the province of Madhya Pradesh was formed. The State Museum of Bhopal was reopened in 2005 in a freshly constructed building, and this is one of the city's most stunning architectural examples. It houses remarkable pieces of artwork, unique antiques, and ancient narratives that highlight the country's rich cultural legacy.
Architecture
Conceptual photographs, pre-history and fossil record, unearthed metals, silver illustrations, writings, statues, aristocratic catalogs, garments, independence movement, postal stamps, memorabilia, ancient texts, works of art, coins, weapons, gothic records, unique percussion equipment, as well as other historical and archaeological artifacts are among some of the museum's 17 galleries. It contains a modern structure that is designed to track ambient daylight and also large rooms that are accessible through ramps. The museum's displays and exhibits were all created by regional craftspeople. The Golghar, a circular structure with a cupola, has 12 doorways and flower-painted sidewalls. It is well-known for its architecture as well as Madhya Pradesh's top heritage and literature.
Activities
- Rare instrument gallery houses instruments like sarangi, veena, sarod, rabab, pakhawaj, and many more.
- The coin gallery displays coinage from the Punch-mark (Ahat) era through the Marathi dynasty, illustrating the evolution of Indian money.
- Ancient Inscriptions Gallery features a rock edict of Paramara king Narvarman and a copper plate writing of Pratihara king Malaya Varman discovered in Kurera.
- Paintings from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Krishna Leela, diverse characters, and portraits of Mughal and Marathas emperors and Sardars have also been presented at the Miniature Painting Gallery.
- Bagh Cave Gallery's mosaic murals depict a variety of scenes, including flowers, animals, and birds. In the Bagh caverns, there are depictions of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, the Royal Palace, orchestral performances, and floral wreaths.
Tips for visiting
- The museum remains closed on Mondays.
- Extra charges apply to take your DSLR or videography camera inside.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the busiest days and see the most number of people.
Best time to visit
Winter weather is the perfect season to explore Bhopal, beginning in October and lasting until early March. The mild weather is tolerable, allowing visitors to take advantage of tourism and leisure adventures to their full potential. Winters are the greatest season to visit Bhopal because of the glorious sunshine. Summertime in Bhopal is warm and muggy, with heavy rain downpours. Monsoons bring heavy rain showers and storms. As a result, certain times are not advised for traveling.
Nearby Atractions
- Rock Shelters Of Bhimbetka
- Upper Lake
- Saanchi Stupa
- Badi Jheel Lake
- Shaurya Smarak
- Yodhasthal
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Nearby market/ shopping places
- Chowk Bazaar: This is the destination to go if you're a die-hard buyer. From jewelry, handbags, and Indian textile clothing to relics, indigenous Bhopali handicrafts, and handcrafted pillows, the short alleyways sell a diverse range of goods.
- Bittan Market: It depicts traditional Bhopal with a variety of things to choose from. This bustling market has a great selection including jewelry, purses, shoes, and apparel at a cheap rate.
- Mrignayani Emporium: It is the place to go if you would like to take a few of Bhopal's wonderful antiques back with you. It has a wide range of sarees, with flowery hues, gold-toned motifs, and exquisite bordering that will take your breath away.
- Habibganj market: Many shops are selling pungent seasonings and spices, as well as sumptuous namkeens, pakoras, and jalebi-rabdi so that you can bring the flavor of Bhopal back with you.
Nearby Hotels
- Taj lakefront
- Jehan Numa palace
- Touchwood resort
- Graces resort
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Surendra Vilas
- Noor-us-Sabah palace
Interesting Facts About Archaeological Museum
- The Golghar, a spherical structure with a dome, has 12 doorways and flower-painted walls.
- The portfolio also includes the world's oldest postage stamp, 'The Black Penny,' which had been published in 1840 and features Queen Victoria's portrait.
- The statuary portfolio also includes a black-colored granite Buddha as well as the Yakshas from around 200 BC.
