Art Galleries & Museums

Earlier Konark's Archaeological Museum was established somewhere else than the present location. Currently, it is located at a stone's throw away distance from the Sun Temple towards the north. This shift took place in the year 1968.

Located on the northern side of the Sun temple, the Archaeological Museum of Konark houses a large variety of antiques. The museum comprises of four galleries that exhibit nearly 260 antiquities, gathered from the complex of Sun Temple. This marvelous museum of archaeology was established in the year 1968 and boasts of a number of galleries. The first gallery has a collection of the fallen sculptures retrieved from the famous Sun temple.

Situated outside the Sun temple, the ASI museum showcases some delicate models of ancient Oriyan architecture. The museum has four arcades, which exhibits about 250 odd verities of various antiques recovered from the Sun temple. Besides, it has a rich reserve collection.

The first gallery houses the plunged monuments regained from the Sun temple complex. The renovated wall of temple, trendy stuffs like celestial nymphs, janitors, stones carved with rich flora and fauna, are some of the exhibited items in the second gallery. The colossal figures of fine craftsmanship like image of Surya Narayana, celestial goblins, and some erotic sculptures have been presented in the third gallery.

Tribal Museum in Bhubaneswar is a much sought place by enthusiast tourists with interest in tribal life styles and cultures. Tribal Museum, located in the back side of the Jagannath Temple at Koraput in Orissa, showcases a good collection of stone sculptures, metal objects and images, wooden objects, anthropological objects, jewelry, textiles and terracotta. A small informative library and a small but elegant zoo are also operated inside the museum.

The museum functions on all days except for the National holidays and the visiting time is from 10 00 hrs to 17 00 hrs.

This museum has a collection of religious sculptures, weapons, coins, and musical instruments. It also has a good collection of antique paintings and palm leaf manuscripts in a small room at the end of the corridor on the first floor.

From Kolhua, drive back to the Vaishali museum, which houses archaeological remains discovered at various sites in Vaishali. (A better collection of terracotta figurines, pottery inscribed seals, vessels, coins, ornaments, clay toys can be seen at Patna Museum) Some polished and well cut stone weights in the multiples of 1: 2: 4: 8: 16 together with seals of the guild of traders and bankers adds to the economy and trade links of Vaishali. Close to the museum is circular tin shed to arouse your curiosity.

It contains metal and stone sculptures of the Maurya and Gupta Periods, terracota figurines and archaeological finds from different sites in Bihar. Among its prized exhibit are Ashes of the Buddha, image of Yakshi (3rd century B. C.), and a 16 metre long fossilized tree.

A museum that exclusively exhibits the relics of the ancient Nalanda University and its adjoining areas, Nalanda Archaeological Museum is a retreat to the eyes. It offers a authentic peep into the Pala art which proves that the university gave equal importance to creative arts along with the intellectual development. Apart from showcasing the imaginative skills, the assortment of sculptures exposes the attire, ornaments, and other features of societal life during the Pala period. In effect it is the finest portrayal of the ancient India that gives a great insight to the life and culture of the ancient Indian society.

The Buddha Museum contains finds from excavations at the site.
Timings : 10:30 am. to 4:30 pm. Weekly off: Monday.

Bodhgaya's Archaeological Museum has a huge collection of stone sculptures and other valuable artifacts. The museum is maintained by Arhaeological survey of India and holds a collection of locally discovered sculpture and also the 19th century Pala bronzes of Hindu and Buddhist deities. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, closed on Fridays, entra is free.

The town of Bodh Gaya and its surroundings are replete with numerous archeological sites, some dating back right to the grand Neolithic Age (2,500 BC). The rich history of being an Educational Powerhouse and trade center is being time and again proved through these excavations.