The Sardar Government Museum was built in the year 1909, the museum is named after Sardar Singh, a maharaja of Jodhpur, and was constructed under the reign of his son, Maharaja Umaid Singh. It was built by Henry Vaughan Lanchester and formally opened for the general public on 17 March 1936. Located at Maliyo St, Baldev Ram Mirdha, Paota, Sri Ganganagar, the Sardar Government Museum is 9. 6 kms from the center of Jodhpur.
Jodhpur Government Museum or the Sardar Government Museum is situated in the Umaid Garden of the Umaid Palace, the construction of which was supervised and designed by Henry Vaughan Lanchester who was a famous Edwardian architect. The architecture of the museum is magneficient and one of the reasons for attracting a large number of visitors apart from the artifacts on display.
The Museum is divided into four sections of Archaeological, Armory, Art and Craft and Historical sections with each of the sections displaying in a total of around 400 sculptures, 10 incriptions, a couple thousand of miniature paintings, a dozen terracotta and 32 metallic objects dating back to the 19th Century, also on the display are over a hundred thousand coins of the era and Arms and Ammunitions of the by gone era. There are various exhibits and galleries inside the museum which feature miniature paintings, textiles, stuffed animals like birds and animals, local crafts and images of Jain Tirthankars. The museum has a military section which is distinct from other parts of the museum which exhibits a good collection battleship of brass, also displayed are wooden models of early type aircrafts. The museum also has a public library and a zoo which is situated in the Umaid Gardens.
The Umaid Garden is also a prime attraction, itself being a very well kept and beautifully developed garden which offers a picturesque and beautiful aura to the people visiting the Museum. The Umaid Garden came into existence and was built and brought up under the reign of Maharaja Umaid Singh. Sardar Government Museum displays mostly the art and sculptures along with coins and arms, though a separate Military section features a decent collection of wooden and brass models of early aircrafts, battleshipsand weaponry. The architecture of the Museum is infamous for holding its beauty and has kept up very well along the past century since its inception, the credit goes to the architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester for coming up with a marvellous piece of creation which has made the establishment able to withstand the test of time and still adorn all its beauty and finesse.
History
The Government Museum of Jodhpur was built in 1909 by Maharaja Umaid Singhji and was opened to the public in 1936. The museum has an interesting compilation of artifacts that is reminiscent of the rich history of the region. The brilliant architecture is due to the genius mind of Henry Vaughan Lanchester, an Edwardian architect of immense repute.
What to Look for Inside the Museum
The museum has a splendid range of collectibles from the past that includes local arts and crafts, miniature portraits, textile fabrics and weapons used during ancient times. The museum also has images of popular Jain Tirthankars. Visitors throng the place to have a view of stuffed animals and birds which are displayed alongside the thorny bushes in glass cases.
The museum has marked out a separate section for displaying military equipment such as wooden planes and brass battleships. This section is frequented by a very curious and knowledgeable audience eager to know more about the types of armory used by the forces of that era. Visitors can also visit the public library and zoo that’s situated near the main museum building.
The archaeological section of the government museum has on display a wide collection of armory, art and craft and items of historical importance. They include about 400 sculptures of stone, 10 ancient inscriptions, thousands of miniature paintings, about a dozen attractive terracotta, numerous metallic objects, arms, ancient coins and other miscellaneous objects.
How to Reach
By Road :
Jodhpur has a private bus stand from where many buses ply towards the city at fairly high frequency. Visitors can use the services of buses of Rajasthan State Transport Corporation or private buses that connect the city to other prime tourist destinations in the region. Taxis, rickshaws and horse carts are also available for transportation by road.
By Rail :
Jodhpur Railway Station is located in the center of the city and forms a part of the North Western Railways. There are several trains that connect the city to various other parts of the state and other main cities of the country.
By Air :
Jodhpur Airport is located about 5 kilometers from the main railway station and is a civil enclave airport that’s managed by the Indian Air Force. Many private aircrafts takeoff and land here which helps connects the city by air other districts of the state and key capitals.
Jodhpur Tourism Popularly known as the “Blue City”, Jodhpur has a bluish landscape and is noted for its majestic Mehrangarh Fort. This is one of the most-visited tourist attractions of Jodhpur and is listed under the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Encircled with seven strong gates, Mehrangarh Fort showcases an antique collection of paintings, armours, palanquins, treasure, turbans and folk musical instruments. Jaswant Thada is another delight in Jodhpur. This white-marbled marvel is a memorial dedicated to Maharaja Jaswant Singh, built by his son in 1899. Jaswant Thada is a traditional cremation ground of Jodhpur rulers and is also a notable architectural landmark of Jodhpur.
Another epitome of inspiring architecture is Umaid Bhavan Palace, which has now turned into a five-star hotel by the Taj Group of Hotels and Resorts. Balsamand Lake and Kaylana Lake are amongst the most relaxing spots of the city, bestowed with awe-inspiring views and serenity. Gangaur Festival is an important festival of Udaipur, which is celebrated by women for a blissful marital life.
If you want to know more about Jodhpur, how to reach it, the best time to visit, where to eat and stay, and some useful travel tips, here is our comprehensively curated Jodhpur travel guide.