Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing

The Anokhi Foundation aims to preserve the centuries-old customs and traditions of the artisans in Jaipur. the foundation has been running a museum, Anokhi Museum of Handmade Paintings, where it exhibits various artefacts in relation to the hand and block printing. Exhibiting the oldest forms of Rajasthani art, the Anokhi museum of hand printing houses more than a hundred hand printed garments keeping alive the age-old tradition of printing clothes. Located in the Anokhi haveli or the “Chanwar Palkiwalon ki Haveli”, the museum is a charitable foundation started by the clothing brand named Anokhi. The haveli which once used to a house of the royal palanquin bearers has been turned into a museum wherein you get a glimpse of the lengthy process of hand printing a garment. The restored gorgeous museum holds a UNESCO certification in 2000 for its amazing works in the preservation and interpretation of the art form.

This museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of block printed cloth. If you have an inclination towards art then this is a must for you and if not then a visit to this museum will surely awaken the artist and admirer inside you. The popular museum that opened in 2005 gains its popularity with its on-site demonstration of the art forms by the artisans. On the rooftop of the haveli, you will come across various artisans who showcase their works to the interested visitors.

History of Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing Jaipur
Anokhi as a brand, was established way before the foundation of the museum was laid. The brand was founded by Rachel’s in-laws, Faith Singh and J. P ‘John’ Singh during the early 1970s. Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing is the brainchild of Rachel Bracken Singh, along with husband Pritam Singh. They started the museum in 2002 with the vision to conserve the age old craft of hand block printing, which is an intricate part of Rajasthani culture and tradition. Rachel is the Founder and Director of the museum.

Although it was Rachel who initiated the founding and setting up the museum, it was her father-in-law, John Singh who purchased the ruined mansion during the late 1970s. The restoration work on the mansion started around 1989 and included renowned architects, Nimish patel and Parul Zaveri. Rachel was very particular in restoring the building to its original grandeur as much as possible. Help came from the local artisans and craftsmen, along with the use of traditional architectural techniques and local materials.

It took 3 years to complete the renovation and bring the mansion back to its original form. Due to the preservation work done during the restoration of the mansion, the museum was conferred with the ‘Cultural Heritage Conservation’ award by UNESCO in the year 2000. The building that houses the museum was once an ancient dilapidated mansion in ruins. The original name of the mansion used to be Chanwar Palkiyon ki Haveli before it was renamed Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. However, the locals still call it by its original name. It is said that the mansion once was used by the palanquin bearers as their rest house during the time when royals ruled the world. The opening exhibition of the museum was named ‘Print Progress – Innovation and Revival 1970-2005. The exhibition was put together by the then Museum Consultant, Pramod Kumar along with Emma Ronald who was the then museum curator.

How To Reach Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing
Located near the most popular town of Rajasthan, Jaipur, the Anokhi Museum of Hand printing is a Haveli situated near the Kheri Gate, Amber which is 15 km from Jaipur. Jaipur is well connected to major cities of the country through both Jaipur railway station and Jaipur airport which is also called the Sanganer airport. To reach the destination, the best route possible is to rent a taxi or a cab from Jaipur to the Anokhi Haveli.

The Museums of Rajasthan fascinate people cutting across all cross sections of society. These marvellous museums depicting 1000 years old history are worth a visit once in a lifetime. From coins to arms to tanks to garments, the galleries of Rajasthan houses everything. Museums are the store-houses of information and depict the art and culture of a Nation.. The glimpses of the past golden era of the Rajas and the Maharajas can be seen through the museums of Rajasthan which are filled with all the articles and evidences of the historical figures and happenings in the state. The museums of Rajasthan are the store of the very interesting articles of the Kings and the Queens and it holds their objects that were related to their lifestyle, clothing, and their stories that made a mark in the history. The museums in Rajasthan also hold many articles related to the wars and the warriorship of the Rajput Kings who fought for their motherland and made the land pious colored in the hues of bravery and patriotism. These museums are managed by the ‘Department of Archeology and Museum, Government of Rajasthan’ and also some of them are jointly preserved by the ‘Archeological Survey of India’ too and the tourists who visit to this state never miss to visit them to reminisce the golden eras.