Rajasthan the land of massive forts,  sprawling palaces intricately carved temples of colourful tribes and brave warriors of unrivalled form of arts and crafts,  unique dance and music traditions is changing at a rapid pace. Its vast network of museums in large and small towns,  archaeological sites and the recently opened museums and art galleries in the palaces of erstwhile rulers of old states help to preserve this great heritage for posterity.

Ajmer Government Museum
Housed in the beautiful fort and palace built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1570,  and situated in the heart of the old city and close to the railway station is this museum. It was here that the British envoy Sir Thomas Roe met Emperor jahangir in 1616. Commonly known as Magazine in the present day is the palace quarters where the emperors lived. After British occupation in 1818 and during the first war of Independence in 1857 it was used as the Rajputana Arsenal by the British which gave the name magazine.

Alwar Government Museum:
Housed in the old City Palace,  it has a unique collection of arms,  bidri work,  lacquered and ivory work,  musical instruments,  stuffed animals,  beautiful brass and pottery works from Jaipur,  Multan,  Bengal and Ceylon,  miniature paintings and Persian and Sanskrit manuscripts. The museum is divided into three major sections,  each housed in a big hall.

Amer (Jaipur) Archaeological Museum :
Located in the Dil-e-Aaram Gardens,  of Amer,  this ancient capital of Jaipur was established in 1949. Prior to this,  the excavated material from Rairh,  Bairat,  Sambhar,  Nagar etc. and the sculptures and epigraphs collected from various sites in the erstwhile Jaipur State were housed at Vidyadhar Gardens in Purana Chat. In July 1949,  the entire collection was transferred to Dil-e-Aaram Garden,  a part of the old palace at Amer. An Art Gallery was inaugurated in 1992 in this complex.The museum is divided into three sections.

Bairat Virat Nagar Museum :
Virat Nagar was the . Frequent references of this capital of the legendary Matsayadeslin have been made in the Indian epic - the Mahabharat. In the epic period,  the area around the district of Jaipur,  Alwar and Bharatpur came to be known as Matsayadesh with Virat Nagar as its capital. The museum,  although not very large has the richest collection. The excavated material like potteries,  pikkins,  old coins,  seals,  metallic pieces,  weapons and statues are exhibited here.

Bharatpur Covernaient Museum :
Located in the centre of the famous Lohagarh Fort,  the Bharatpur Museum houses a rich collection of archaeological wealth of the nearby areas as from the old Bharatpur State. The huge palatial building Kachahari Kalan,  once the administrative block of the rulers of Bharatpur state,  was converted into a Museum in 1944. Later on,  the Kamra Khas (personal chamber) building on the first floor was added to the museum. It exhibits sculptures found during the excavation of old villages e.g. Noh,  Mailah,  Bareh,  Bayana etc. ranging from the Kuslian period.

Fort Museum,  Junagarh Fort,  Bikaner :
Ganga Mahal,  the imposing halls added by Maharaja Gailga Singh,  now houses the Fort Museum that displays a fine collection of antique Rajput weaponry,  jade handle daggers,  camel hide dhaals (shields) and inlaid handguns and camel guns. Gold and silver howdahs,  jhulas and a firstworld war biplane are on view too. Other important objects include a pair of drums belonging to Jamblioji,  the saint who predicted the foundation of the dynasty by Rao Bika for 450 years. Photographs and items of personal use by Maharaja Ganga Singh and miniatures are also on view.

Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum,  Bikaner :
Established near the Lalgarh Palace in 1937 on the eve of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Maharaja Gaiga Singh this Museum now run by the Government of Rajasthan,  was shifted to a new building in the Civil Lines in 1954.

Some principal sections of the museum are:

Chittaurgarh - Fateh Prakash Palace Museum :
Inside the historical Chittuargarh Fort,  one big portion of the Fateh Prakash Palace was converted into a museum in 1968. It has a great collection of sculptures. Also are desplayed weapons,  daggers and armoury. Amongst the prominent sculptures are

Dungarpur Museum :
A newly constructed museum named "Rajmata Devendra Kunwar State Museum and Cultural Centre,  Dungarpur" was opened to public in 1988. The sculpture gallery of the museum throws light on the history of Vagad Pradesh that was spread over the present areas of Dungarpur,  Banswara and tehsil Kherwara of Udaipur district.

Jaipur - Albert Hall Museum :
This is the oldest Museum in the State located in the centre of the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh. It was built in 1876 when King Edward VII visited India as the Prince of Wales. It was opened to public in 1886.

Modern Art Gallery - Ram Niwas Bagh :
A small gallery on the first floor of the Ravindra Manch Auditorium shows a selection of works by the well known modern artists and sculptors of Rajasthan.

Hawa Mahal Museum - Jaipur :
Just behind the beautiful Hawa Mahal(Palace of Winds) in the adjoining Partap Mandir,  a museum was setup in the year 1983. Preserved here is the sculptural heritage collected from Ganeshwar,  Virat Nagar,  Raid,  Sambhar and Nagar.

Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Ii Museum,  Jaipur :
Located within the City palace complex and nested amidst old buildings,  temples and the palace quarters,  this museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. It exhibits ancestral collections built up by the successive rulers of Amer and Jaipur.

Jaisalmer Folklore Museum :
A well organized museum divided into six sections and has a rich collection of paintings,  photographs,  costumes,  hairstyles and jewellry,  utility articles of rural life,  camel and horse decorations,  fossils,  ornamental arches,  as well as articles connected with folk and cultural lifestyles.

Jaisalmer - Government Museum :
The Govt. museum in Jaisalmer was opened in 1984 and is situated on Police Line Road near Moomal Hotel. It houses a large collection of wood and marine fossils and gives an insight into the geological past of the area. Sculptures from the ancient townships of Kiradu and Lodurva dating back to the 12th century pulsate with youth and grace and depict the skill of the time.

Jahlawar - Government Museum :
Situated in the old Garh Palace near Bhawani Natya Shala,  is the Goverment Museum that has on display sculptures and architectural fragments of the 8th century city of the Chandravati and sculptures and epigraphs from the Jhalrapatan region fill its galleries.

Jodhpur - Government Museum :
Located in the Umaid gardens on High Court Road,  it has a large and fairly interesting collection of stuffed animal,  including a number of desert birds in two glass cases,  each with a thorn bush. The military section includes cumbersome wooden biplane models and an extraordinary brass battelship.

Jodhpur- Mehrangarh Fort Museum :
An excellent museum with rare and interesting artifacts,  textiles,  paintings,  transport items,  etc. laid out with utmost care and thought. The Palanquin and Howdah Galleries display a superb collection of old and costly specimens of great historical value.

Jodhpur - Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum:
The ruling family of Jodhpur has recently converted a part of the gigantic Umaid Bhawan Palace as a palace museum. Items on display are rare collection of rocks,  watches,  fine china,  ornate mirrored furniture,  glass and crystal ware,  photographs etc

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