Ever wonder about a treasure trove of Indian art and culture right here in Varanasi? That’s Bharat Kala Bhavan. It is a renowned museum. It sits inside Banaras Hindu University. The museum boasts a perfect setting for history and art buffs.
Bharat Kala Bhavan’s story began in the early 20th century. The Bharatiya Lalit Kala Parishad was established on January 1 1920. This marked the start of the museum. Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation for the current building in 1950.
Inside Bharat Kala Bhavan you’ll find a rich collection. There are arts relics and artifacts from various periods. A vault displays gold platinum and jade items. Mughal-era smoking pipes and coins are among these. You can also see sculptures textiles and miniature paintings. They come from the Mughal era and other kingdoms.
The museum has eleven galleries. Archaeological Banaras Painting Textile and Decorative Art are popular. Exhibits show the Krishna cult’s existence in Kashi. This dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
Bharat Kala Bhavan holds over one lakh items. Ancient scriptures sculptures paintings and coins are among them. Textiles and other artifacts fill the galleries. You can explore galleries like Nicholas Roerich Gallery. Others include Mahamana Malaviya Vithika and Chhavi Vithika. Don’t miss Nidhi Vithika and the Sculpture Gallery. The Decorative Arts Gallery and Archaeological Art Gallery are also worth seeing.
The museum has about 12000 pictures and paintings in different styles. Paintings from Nepal and Tibet are also here. They date back to the 13th and 14th centuries. A painted Tantric Pothi by Jai Prakash Mall dates to 1765 AD.
As you enter Bharat Kala Bhavan a large hall greets you. It features a sculpture of Lord Krishna. He lifts Govardhana Parvat. He raised it as an umbrella. He rescued people from heavy rain. Sculptures from the Gupta period show the Krishna cult’s popularity in Varanasi.
The painting gallery is beautiful. It contains miniature paintings from Mughal courts. Hindu scriptures are also on display. See paintings of a Hindu princess from Punjab Hills. Contemporary and Pahari paintings adorn this gallery.
Bharat Kala Bhavan also has Banarasi silk textiles and brocades. You’ll find Pashmina and embroidered shawls from Kashmir. Rare Chamba rumals are also present. Buddhist and Hindu scriptures are part of the collection. Manuscripts Mughal miniatures and bronze statues await. Contemporary art metal craft and pottery are here too. The museum displays ivory goods terracotta beads and jewelry. Look for Gujarati and Rajasthani paintings.
Bharat Kala Bhavan is more than a museum. It is a journey through India’s art culture and history. Each visit is an adventure through time. It offers insights into India’s rich heritage.