The beauty of Jaipur in Rajasthan, as a tourist destination, is simply unrivalled. The best way to study the culture of a region is to visit the local museum. The Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur serves as the gateway to learning the cultural traditions and various art forms of the “Pink city”.
Built in 1876, first as a concert hall and later as Town hall in 1880, the Albert Hall got its name from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum because of its strikingly similar architecture. The building’s foundation was laid out in 1876, when the Prince of Wales visited the city.
It was Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, the ruler of Jaipur, who suggested that Albert Hall be used as a museum for industrial arts.
The hall was later used for exhibiting masterpieces of local craftsmen and artisans. The museum, by 1881, was opened to public that even bought artwork, handicrafts and other masterpieces on display. However, the museum wasn’t fully constructed until 1887. Later, valuable antiques were added to the modern artefacts collection.
The architecture of the building is Indo-Saracenic in style and holds unique stone ornamentation. The museum’s corridors stock Persian paintings, mural paintings, among others. The murals on view vividly express the ancient civilizations of Babylonians, Chinese, Greek and others.
The museum houses 16 galleries in total that display a spectacular collection of antiques, artefacts and artworks in the following categories: Arms & Armour, Pottery, Sculptures, Miniature Paintings, Clay Works, Marble Art, International Art, Ivory, Jewellery, Woodwork & Furniture, Coins, Musical Instruments, Garments, Carpet, and other miscellaneous collections. In addition to these, there is an exclusive ‘gallery of the month’ which displays unique collections.
The museum, which is open from 9AM to 5PM on all days, is well connected with all the other parts of the city. Located nearby the Merta Road Junction Railway Station, the Albert Hall Museum can be reached via local train, cab or public transportation.
