Government Museum Baran

aditi.rakhe — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 12:44:58 +0000

Government Museum Baran aditi.rakhe Thu, 10/29/2020 - 18:14

Museum Address

Government Museum, Old Civil Line, Nr. Water Tank,

City

Baran

State

Rajasthan

Pin Code

325205

Phone Number

Sandeep Singh mob +91 7891585410 (Accountant)

Are there any docents or guides who visitors can directly call to book for a guided tour?

Yes

First Name

Keshab

Last Name

Bhati

bharat_bhati@yahoo.com

Mobile Number

+91 9414394241

Main category

Archaeological

Briefly describe the history of the museum, its collection and donors.

Baran District in South East Rajasthan is little known by the outside world but the rock paintings from here indicate an extremely long history. Remains of temples for example at Kakuni, Atru , Vilasgarh/Bilasgarh and Bhand Devra and impressive forts at Shahbad and Shergarh indicate a diverse history incorporating Buddhism, Jainism, Shaivism and Islam. The Yupa pillars from Bhavna village which are now displayed in Kota indicate the revival of Vedic religion in the 3rd century. The Ramgarh meteorite impact crater is of world importance.

For a long time, the need was felt for a museum in which the numerous sculptures scattered around at these temple sites could be displayed. In 2008, the Government transferred the Divisional Magistrate’s bungalow in the old civil lines to the Dept. of Archaeology and Museums. In 2013-14 funds were available for its renovation as a museum. In 2016 the brochure was printed and finally, on August 20th 2020 the Museum was inaugurated virtually from Jaipur by the Chief Minister during the lockdown. The museum has yet to be added to the Rajasthan museums website.

Finishing touches like signs on how to find it are not there yet and so apart from a few locals, there are hardly any visitors. The museum displays good collections of sculptures, paintings, weapons and decorative arts, and photos of local temples and forts which are worth a visit.

Some sculptures displayed at the museum have come from the Bandh Devra Temple which is dedicated to the tantric tradition of Shiva and was built in the tenth century in the style of Khajuraho. It is situated in the middle of the meteorite impact crater at Ramgarh which is 40 km from Baran and which is the second-largest such crater, at 3.5km diameter, in India. Various other sculptures displayed here are from Bilasgarh which was once a fine city but was destroyed on the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb after a Khechi princess from the ruling family of Bilasgarh refused to marry him and preferred suicide. The spot near the Bilas River where she ended her life is called Kanya Dah, near Vilasgarh a treeless desolate place strewn with rubble about 32kms from Baran.

Although the sculptures are local, the rest of the contents of the museum have been collected and displayed with an attempt to introduce the local people to some Indian crafts. There are some very good examples of the Jaipur School in the Miniature Art Gallery and there are more examples of Bundi art in Baran than in the Bundi museum. Baran is situated in a tribal belt and many local people are Sahariyas. They have a token representation in the Folk Art Gallery in the museum.

This content has been created as part of a project partnered with Royal Rajasthan Foundation, the social impact arm of Rajasthan Royals, to document the cultural heritage of the state of Rajasthan.

Photography

Yes

Videography

Yes

Cafeteria

Museum shop

Wheelchair friendly

Yes

Restroom

Yes

Drinking water

Yes

Locker room

Parking

Yes

Information in Braille

Workshops/seminars/lectures

Garden/picnic area

Yes

Audio/visual guides

Guided tours

Library and archives services

IT facilities ( Photocopying, printing, computer )

Auditorium

Conference/ Seminar hall

Museum membership

Conservation lab

Research lab

Who manages the museum?

State Government

Person-in-charge of the museum

Curator

First Name

Shri Mahendra Kumar

Last Name

Nimhal

Mobile no.

+91 9680972199

Reference Link

• http://www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/baran.html gives colourful and interesting information about Baran and its surrounds.

What is the average duration to see the museum?

less than 1 hour

Is the museum currently closed?

Image for museum exterior/building

Gallery Images

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Description of the Image

Photos of temples which are the source of the sculptures displayed in the museum.

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Temples from where Sculptures Sourced

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Description of the Image

Photo of the temple at Bilasgarh said to have been destroyed by Emperor Aurangzeb. Built 9th-12century AD.

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Temple Remains at Bilasgarh

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Description of the Image

Sculptures stored in Bilasgarh village waiting for a local museum to be built.

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Sculptures Stored in Bilasgarh

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Description of the Image

Photo showing the location of Bhand Devra 10th century temple in the middle of the 3.5km meteorite impact crater at Ramgarh 41 km from Baran.

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Bhand Devra 10th Century Temple

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Description of the Image

The paintings are from the Jaipur and Bundi schools and are from the 19th century. A Barahmasa series from Bundi is based on the poems of the poet Kishavadas and illustrates the Indian seasons.

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View of Miniature Paintings Gallery

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Description of the Image

This 19th century painting from the Jaipur school shows Shah Jahan sitting on a golden throne and surrounded by ‘youthful ladies and tame lions’.

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Palace of Shah Jahan

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Description of the Image

This 19th century painting from the Jaipur school shows Vishnu resting on the coils of the many headed Sheshnaga. Laxmi is massaging his legs. A lotus coming out of his navel bears Brahma.

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Sheshasayi Vishnu Painting

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Description of the Image

This sculpture shows the same subject carved in stone in the 12th century from Vilas (Tehsil Kishanganj). You can see Brahma on the lotus which is emerging from Vishnu’s navel. There are similar sculptures in both Kota and Bundi museums.

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Sheshasayi Vishnu Sculpture

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Description of the Image

The weapons gallery showing matchlock guns, arrows, pistols and a camel gun known as a jambura.

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Weapons Gallery

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Description of the Image

There are displays from various parts of India including stone idols, Bikaner lacquer work vases, Jaipur blue pottery, metal art, clay models of professions and ascetics from West Bengal and mehndi designs on hands and feet.

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Decorative Arts Gallery

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Description of the Image

These clay models of ascetics and sadhus were made in West Bengal.

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Clay Figures from West Bengal

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Description of the Image

Beautifully executed mehndi designs on hands.

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Mehndi Designs

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Description of the Image

Saharia woman in traditionally block printed outfit using natural dyes. Baran is still a centre for dyeing and printing and the Chippa community used to be famous for their bandhej work (tye and die tiny circles). Mangrol in Baran district is still a centre for handloom Kota Doria cloth.

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Sahariya Woman

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View of the Folk Gallery

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Description of the Image

A composite three-headed Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva with Surya shown in the form of sun-shaped rosettes. 12th century from Vilas (Tehsil Kishanganj)

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Harihar Pitamah Martand

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Description of the Image

This interesting 11th-century sculpture showing the Goddess Ambika holding a branch of mangoes in her right hand and her child on her left while sitting on a lion is recognised by both Jains and Hindus. For Hindus, Ambika is one of the 108 avatars of Durga, Mother of the Universe, who represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism. For Jains, Ambika is a Yakshi who is the attendant of Lord Neminath, the 22nd Thirthankara. She is worshipped as the Mother Goddess of Jainism and is regarded as the patron deity of material prosperity and childbirth. She represents fertility and can protect against the evil forces of nature.

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Ambika and Child

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Description of the Image

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Ambika and Child

Entry Fee

Applicable

Entry fee information

Indian Adults: Rs. 20, Children over 7: Rs. 10
Foreign National Adults: Rs. 100 Foreign National Children over 7: Rs. 50

Getting there

• Excellent road NH 27
• Walking distance from the bus station and Baran train station.
• Jaipur airport is 257kms and Gwalior airport is 274 kms

Opening Days

Sunday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Public holidays

Opening Time

09:00 a.m.

Closing Time

05:00 p.m.

The best time of the day to visit the museum?

a. Most Crowded:10am-12am, if a school group is visiting. b. Least Crowded: Any time after 1pm.

Interesting things about the Museum

1. Some sculptures have come from the Bandh Devra Temple which is dedicated to the tantric tradition of Shiva and was built in the tenth century in the style of Khajuraho. It is situated in the middle of the meteorite impact crater at Ramgarh which is 40 km from Baran and which is the second-largest such crater, at 3.5km diameter, in India. Inside the temple, many of the sculptures are of Bhairava, the favourite deity of tantriks and an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
2. Some sculptures are from Bilasgarh which was once a fine city but was destroyed on the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb after a Khechi princess from the ruling family of Bilasgarh refused to marry him and preferred suicide. The spot near the Bilas River where she ended her life is called Kanya Dah, near Vilasgarh a treeless desolate place strewn with rubble about 32kms from Baran.
3. The Saharia tribe are based in Baran district and have suffered from poor access to education, health and finance. They are represented in the museum by a couple in the folklore gallery dressed in traditional clothes.

Most uninteresting aspect of the museum

Maps of find sites would be helpful and more information on the exhibits.

Seating facilities

Yes

Elderly friendly

Yes

Name of Museum Surveyor

Victoria Singh

Verified