The Albert Hall Museum is the oldest museum in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It is situated in the Ram Niwas Garden. Built-in the year 1876, it was initially planned to be a concert hall. It resembles the architecture of the Victoria and Albert Hall Museum in London, so, the name. Also known as the Government Central Museum, it is a standing example of the Indo-Saracenic architecture. Albert Hall Museum holds a large collection of artefacts brought from the different regions of the world that stand divided over a whopping 16 art galleries! So in the coming sections, you would get a chance of things to know about Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur.
The museum takes on a whole new appearance as the night falls and the entire building glows with yellow lights, which looks extremely elegant. You can relax in the gardens with the remarkable view of Albert Hall in the backdrop. So, undoubtedly, a great place to get a glimpse into the history and ancient culture of India.
Bordered by lush green gardens, the foundation of Albert Hall happened on 6 February 1876 when Albert Edward visited India. The galleries of the museum have a combination of antiques and artefacts from the past which will blow away your mind. The antique coins, marble art, pottery, carpets and especially the Egyptian mummy are a gift to the eyes of history lovers. The building itself from the outside has an amazing architecture. The Indo – Saracenic inspired domes and intricately sculpted arches constructed from sandstone is marvellous.
History of Albert Hall Museum
The building of Albert Hall Museum was built in 1876 as a concert hall. The museum gets its name from the Victoria and Albert Museum of London, because of the similarity of architecture. The foundation for the building started in 1876, when Prince of Wales visited Jaipur. When the building was constructed, the royals and government did not have any idea about usage of the building. It was initially used as Town Hall in 1880. Later, the King of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II suggested to use it as a museum for Industrial Arts. Later, the hall was used for displaying masterpieces of local artisans.
In 1881, the museum was at its prime beauty and people from across the country visited this museum to buy or enjoy handicrafts, artwork and other masterpieces. However, the building was under construction until 1887. Later, the museum started to showcase artifacts and ancient artworks along with budding artist’s masterpieces.
The Architecture of Albert Hall Museum -
Albert Hall Museum resembled the splendid Indo- Saracenic architecture, the hallways or corridors adorned with murals of diverse styles. It resembled the history and culture of the Egyptian, European, Greek, Babylonian, and Chinese civilizations.
Albert Hall soon became the centre stage for teaching the history of different civilizations. The museum-inspired artisans to hone their artistic skills as well as preserve traditional art, architecture, and craft forms of India.
When it comes to the architecture of the museum, the Egyptian mummy is a feast to travelers’ eyes as well as history aficionados.
The architecture of Albert Hall is the fusion of elaborate Islamic architecture and Neo-gothic style. The unique architecture of the museum used by the British in India and implemented in most public and government buildings.
The decorative and stylish components of this museum are one of the classic examples of architectural elegance and finesse of that period. If you have a penchant for design and architecture; you will love Albert Hall’s elaborate carvings as well as the distinctive ‘Chatri’ style towers that resemble impeccable artistry.
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