Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum Gwalior

Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum Gwalior
Vital Information for Visitors
Address:

Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum, Gwalior Gort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

Open & Close:

Open on all days except Monday & Government holidays
07:30 AM to 06:30 PM

Entry Fees:

Indian – INR 10 pp
Foreign – INR 100 pp

Duration:

1- 2 Hours

Significance:

Rich collection of historical artefacts

Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum has an interesting history. With the creation of the Department of Archaeology in 1913 by Maharaja Madhav Rao Scindia, the idea of having a museum was also conceived. In pursuance of the order of the Gwalior Darbar to collect movable antiquities lying scattered in the districts, the Department started the work, and in 1920 when the work of collection had sufficiently progressed, the Darbar assigned the Gujari Mahal to make it suitable for the purpose of a museum. The exhibits were classified and arranged in Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum in Gwalior Fort and it was formally opened to the public early in May 1922. The Gujari Mahal Museum is a local one and most of the exhibits are from various places in the state except for some finds like potters and seals from Mohenjodaro and some coins, metal images and paintings acquired from outside the state. From time to time, several changes have been made into the museum. With the passage of time, the museum has gone through various stages of development. Many new galleries have also been introduced.

The Gujari Mahal Museum in Gwalior is mainly archaeological and the collection comprises sculptures, lithic inscriptions and copper plates, inscribed seals, stone pillars and capitals, hero stones and sati stones, metal images, terracotta objects, coins, excavated objects from ancient sites such as Pawava (Padmavati), Besnagar ( Vidisha), Ujjain (Ujjayini) and Maheshwar, copies of Bagh frescoes and paintings. The objects displaced in the museum illustrate the art and culture of this part of the country from the 3rd century B.C. to the 17th century A.D. The palm capital from Pawaya, the lion capital from Udayagiri, Manibhadra Yaksha and other early carvings, the exquisite mother and child from Badoh and other Gupta Empireand medieval era sculptures, a fine series of terracotta heads from Pawaya, stone inscriptions including that of Kumaragupta from Tumain, copper-plates, a representative collection of coins and fine copies of frescoes from Bagh caves and a collection of Rajput and Mughal paintings are noteworthy amongst the collections in this museum.

The library of the Archaeological Department is available for the use of the museum also. Occasionally reference books are loaned to interested readers. The curator sometimes exhibits the material in the Gujari Mahal Museu to the parties of visitors. Here is a collection of lantern slides on archaeological objects which are shown whenever necessary. The museum can arrange for photographs of objects by getting in touch with the Aichaeological Department. Though the museum does not arrange special or periodical exhibitions, it is helped by cooperating and lending exhibits. The labels are bilingual in English and Hindi. Drawings and photo enlargements are used to explain the exliibits displayed as for instance the evolution of architecture, sculpture and dress. The Gujari Mahal Museum is under the charge of the Deputy Director of Archaeology and Museums, Madhya Pradesh.

Greater Gwalior consists of three cities, i.e., Lashkar, Gwalior and Morar and the Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum is centrally situated in Gwalior at a point equidistant from Lashkar and Morar. The museum building though suitable is not adequate. Exploration has been the chief source for the collection of sculptures here though besides pottery and terracotta some sculptures have been recovered from excavations. Paintings and metal images have been purchased. Coins have been mainly acquired from treasure trove finds though some have been purchased and received in exchange for coins supplied from the collection of duplicates. A collection of coins has also been received as a donation. Photographs and sketches are used for better elucidation of the objects displayed as in the case of the evolution of architecture, sculpture and dress. The Gujari Mahal Archaeological Museum is an institutional member of the Museums Association of India.

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