Going back 5000 Years at the National Museum
Coach Driver in the Indus Valley Civilization (2000 BCE)
The National Museum in Delhi has an extensive array of exquisite art and cultural heritage artifacts. It is one of those places in Delhi where you can immerse yourself in India’s heritage and get a blast from the past. You’ll require at least a couple of hours to appreciate each section of the museum. Apart from items from India, the National Museum also hosts exhibitions from foreign lands. Some exhibitions that have caught my eye in the past have been the Faberge – Precious Jewelry from the Russian Empire.
Here are some of the notable collections at the National Museum:
- Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley Civilization): This civilization existed between 6000 BCE to 1300 BCE. The civilization consisted of 1052 cities. The earliest evidence of Hinduism is found in the ruins of the Harappan Civilization. The civilization is also credited to have some very advanced sculpturing techniques and engineering.
- Archaeology: This collection has about 800 sculptures dated between the 3rd and 19th century A.D. The materials used in the sculptures are stone, bronze, and terracotta.
- Buddhist Art: An outstanding specimens of Buddhist Art as a global movement, is illustrated through 84 exhibits in stone, bronze, terracotta, stucco, wooden sculptures and painted scrolls or Thankas from Nepal, Tibet, Central Asia, Myanmar, Java and Combodia, representing the three principal Buddhist forms – Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana.
- Indian Miniature Paintings: These belong to major styles such as, Mughal, Deccani, Central Indian, Rajasthani, Pahari and many other sub-styles relating to the period from 1000 A.D. to 1900 A.D. It also includes paintings on palm leaf, cloth, wood, leather, painted manuscripts, covers on wood and hardboard and Thankus on canvas.
- Evolution of Indian Scripts and Coins: The collection displays 26 large-sized well-lit glass transparencies are on show narrating the wonderful story of the development of various Indian scripts from Brahmi and coins.
Some other collections at National Museum are Arms and Armour, Musical Instruments, and Pre-Columbian and Western Art.
What: National Museum
When: 10.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M. (Monday Closed)
How Much:
- Indian Citizens – Rs. 10 each.
- Other – Rs. 300 each (inclusive of Audio Tour Charges)
- Students – Rs. 1 each.
- Cameras Charges
Indian Citizens – Rs. 20 per Camera.
Others – Rs. 300 per Camera.
Note: Audio Tour available in English, French, German, Japanese and Hindi.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
