Museums of Bihar define the history, culture, art, sculpture, architecture, political and social life of ancient India. From times immemorial Bihar has been the centre of rich cultural heritage. It is a land of religion and the birthplace of great religious leaders like Gautama Buddha, Lord Mahavira and Guru Nanak. The great kings like Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka and Sher Shah also hail from this East Indian state. Some of the museums of Bihar are Patna Museum, Chandradhari Museum, Gaya Museum, Naradah Museum, Maharaja Lakshmishwar Singh Museum, Babu Kunwar Singh Smriti Sangrahalay, Bihar Museum, Srikrishna Science Centre, Rajendra Smriti Sangrahalaya, Gandhi Sangrahalaya, P.G. Departmental Museum, Jayaswal Archaeological and Historical Society and Museum, State Art Gallery, Archaeological Museum and many more.
Objectives of Museums of Bihar
The precious cultural and architectural heritage can be deciphered from the museums situated in Bihar. These museums function as the preservers of the cultural heritage of Bihar and the surrounding region. These museums stand as the epitome of rich cultural and sociological value. Museums situated in Bihar enjoy eminent status and they are the depositors of various cultural objects like sculptures made of wood, bronze, stone, terracotta objects, pottery, carpets, coins, manuscripts, fossils etc. These excavated objects are of great archaeological importance, according to the archaeologists. The tribal objects depict the exclusive artisanship.
Archaeological Museum at Bodhgaya
Archaeological Museum at Bodh Gaya has two galleries, which mainly display bronze and stone sculptures of Buddhist and Brahmanical faith of Pala period, scenes related to Buddhist pantheon, zodiac signs on railings of Sunga age, etc. Sculptures of standing Yakshi figure having elaborate coiffure, crowned Buddha in Bhumisparsamudra, Maiterya, images of Buddha in different attitudes, standing image of Manjusri, terracotta plaque depicting Buddha in Bhumisparshmudra, railing pillar depicting Lord Surya, panel showing Sahasra Buddha, copper antimony rod, miniature pot, etc are preserved in the first gallery.
Archaeological Museum at Vaishali
Archaeological Museum at Vaishali contains brick tiles, terracotta elements of human figure, Naigamesha, mother and child, Goddess Durga, images of Bodhisattva, a female figure etc. Terracotta of ram, elephant, horse, bull, dog, monkey, birds, snake hood, seals and sealing, wheel, rattle, dabber, beads are also preserved here.
Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir
Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir is located at Chajju Bagh. It is an arts and crafts museum that showcases terracotta, jewellery, sculptures, musical instruments, metal items, stone objects, textiles, masks, wooden palki, pottery, folk art and performing art etc.
Bhagalpur Museum
Bhagalpur Museum is situated at Station Club in the city of Bhagalpur. It contains different types of sculptures, terracotta, arms etc.
Biharsarif Sangrahalaya
Biharsarif Sangrahalaya is located at Bihar Sharif in Nalanda District of Bihar. This museum was set up in 1981. It has a huge collection of archaeological elements. The museum library contains a wide variety of books.
Chandrashekhar Singh Museum
Chandrashekhar Singh Museum has huge collection of archaeological artifacts like the stone sculptures of Gupta and Pala period.
Chapra Sangrahalaya
Chapra Sangrahalaya is located inside Dhai Aakhar Bhawan at Chappra. Chapra Sangrahalaya was established in the year 1981 with a view to preserve the excavated materials of the surrounding area.
Gaya Museum
Gaya Museum houses sculptures, bronzes, terracotta, photographs and manuscripts. The children section of Gaya Museum is very interesting. It includes numismatics, geology, natural history, decorative arts, paintings and sketches.
Nardah Museum
Nardah Museum was established in the year 1974. It is located in Nawada district of Bihar. This multi-purpose museum contains Pal stone sculptures, coins, manuscripts, etc.
Diwan Bahadur Rakhakrishna Jalan Museum
Diwan Bahadur Rakhakrishna Jalan Museum is located at Quila House in Patna. This museum was established in the year 1919. It is a storehouse of miscellaneous objects including wood sculptures, carpets, pottery, terracotta, fossils, crystals, beads, ivory, metal objects etc. Diwan Bahadur Rakhakrishna Jalan Museum also houses European furniture, Chinese porcelain, Nepalese musical instruments and some Burmese materials.
