Central Museum

Central Museum Jaipur - Rajasthan is known for its rich traditional and cultural heritage, so it should not come off as a surprise to anyone that it is the perfect place to find some of the best Museums in India. Being the land of maharajas and maharanis, the state of Rajasthan is such a rich treasure trove that one cannot help but be awe-struck at the extensive collection of antiques it holds. Jaipur, in particular, the capital of Rajasthan, has many of the Museums in the state, that house the rarities and objects of the past, that are today seen as a symbol of the rich heritage and cultural prosperity of India.

One of the oldest and the most famous Museum is the Government Central Museum or Albert museum was constructed under the supervision of a British Army officer, Lt. Swinton Jacob in the year 1876. Maharaja Ram Singh, who was then the king of Jaipur, wanted this building to be used as the town hall but his successor Madho Singh decided to convert the building to an art museum.

It is located in the Ramnivas Gardens and is the oldest museum in Jaipur. The Central Museum not only houses many rarities and beautiful objects but its own building is also a sight to behold. The Museum is in the Albert Hall and is inspired by the Indo-Sarcenic style of architecture, which uses the best features of both styles of building. It has many pillars, courtyards and arches that give it a very traditional yet elegant look.

Central Museum, Jaipur ToursThe upper floor/level of the Museum mainly has portraits of royalty and Jaipur Maharajas. That does not in the least mean that the museum only showcases the royal and imperial relics, but it represent "all of Jaipur". It has an extensive collection of jewelry, metalwork and sculpture. There are also many objects made of brass, which display the skills of the expert hands that have hammered and chiseled them to perfection.

The Central Museum also has a huge collection of miniature paintings from the Udaipur, Jaipur, Bundi, Kota and Kishangarh schools of painting. There are also fine specimens of woodwork, metal objects and other arts & crafts. One can also see the old traditional ceremonial dresses of the Kings and the royal families besides a whole lot of pottery objects, painting and sculptures.

If you happen to be in Jaipur, do take a tour to the Central Museum, which is open from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm and enjoy the opportunity to be able to admire the antiques and the rarities of the royal past, which are bound to give you a better insight into the rich past of India.

History of Albert Hall Museum
The building of Albert Hall Museum was built in 1876 as a concert hall. The museum gets its name from the Victoria and Albert Museum of London, because of the similarity of architecture. The foundation for the building started in 1876, when Prince of Wales visited Jaipur. When the building was constructed, the royals and government did not have any idea about usage of the building. It was initially used as Town Hall in 1880. Later, the King of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II suggested to use it as a museum for Industrial Arts. Later, the hall was used for displaying masterpieces of local artisans.
In 1881, the museum was at its prime beauty and people from across the country visited this museum to buy or enjoy handicrafts, artwork and other masterpieces. However, the building was under construction until 1887. Later, the museum started to showcase artifacts and ancient artworks along with budding artist’s masterpieces.