Odisha State Museum: Ticket Price, Timings, History, Architecture, and Many More!
I really like visiting the museum, you know why? Museums and Book stores are examples of some of the places where actual thinkers come, the deep thinkers, the intricately knowing the art thinkers, the admirers of the past, the learners of the future and some just enjoying the present. Though I would like to call myself a deep thinker who has a big interest in getting into details and knowing how and what the person was thinking while making this art of beauty but each time I fail to get an answer. Because beauty just does not lies in the eyes of the beholder only but it also lies in silent admiration! No matter how much you have visited any museum you will always admire different pictures, and artifacts that have been stored for ages and is a proof of a living history.
When I first visited the museum I was in awe from the beginning of my journey to the end. Only to wish to stand a little longer. Each section carried with itself its own depth of beauty, though each section was just elegant but I got stuck for a long moment in the art and craft section displaying the beauty, strength, and power vibes of history with a pinch of elegance. The state museum just shook and took part in my amazement. I wondered what would be happening to the museum at night when it is so awesome in the day. And I remembered maybe they are just not made to visit during the day and there shall be a living presence At night in the museum!
History Of Odisha State Museum, Bhubaneswar
The current Odisha State Museum was founded in 1932 by Professors Ghanshyam Dash and N. C. Banerjee, two eminent historians from Ravenshaw College in Cuttack. At the time, the museum was situated on the campus of Ravenshaw College. The two distinguished gentlemen initially started gathering archaeological artifacts for the museum from various locations.
After roughly six years, the government of Odisha improved the museum, designating it as a Provincial Museum of the State in 1938. Further, it appointed a management committee to oversee the museum, which included the college principal, three professors, and the head of the history department.
With time, the officeholders were able to gather more artifacts for the museum with assistance from the general public, the Indian government’s Archeological Department, and other states. The museum once contained an excellent collection of artwork, sculptures, copper plates, numismatics, and terracotta objects, but they needed to be organized into categories. Later, the stone carvings were divided into groups according to the various art forms, including North Indian art, Gandhara art, and Odisha art. These were further divided into Buddhist, Jain, and Brahmanical subcategories. Coins and terracotta objects were rearranged according to their category, age, and location of finding.
Following India’s independence, Bhubaneswar was designated as the state’s capital, and the Provincial Museum was also relocated there. With time, the exhibit collection multiplied, necessitating the construction of a new structure. The modern building was built as a result of this.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the then-President of India, laid the cornerstone for the new structure on December 29, 1957. The museum building, as well as an auditorium, guest house, and administrative block, were all finished in 1960. The exhibits were transferred to the new structure that same year, and it was given the name Odisha State Museum.
Architecture Of Odisha State Museum
The museum property spans 15 acres, with the main structure taking up roughly 6898 m2 and the lovely sculpture garden occupying roughly 15942 m2. A parking lot has been built next to the garden. A children’s park and a natural history park have been constructed inside the four-story museum complex.
Two enormous Gaja-Simha motifs, a cascading fountain, a streamlet, the garden, and the entrance area that leads to the main complex have all been included as accents. At the museum’s entrance, there are two life-size dancing statues of Odissi dancers.
Odisha Museum Entry Timings
Visitor and Ticket Price or Entry Fees
Activities To Do At The Odisha State Museum
More than 56,000 rare artifacts dating from the early ages to the current era have been conserved by the Museum.
In Bhubaneswar, the State Museum of Odisha is a veritable gold mine of information about India’s and Odisha’s rich past. Visitors to this magnificent museum must check out all of its galleries, which include:
The collections are divided into nine parts, including
Natural History
The focus of this gallery is the state’s flora. Here are specimens of various mammals and birds, both invertebrates and vertebrates. The different dioramas depicting the natural habitat of wild creatures, including the leopard, Royal Bengal tiger, bison, black bucks, nilgais, mouse deer, pangolin, and various species of birds, are the highlights of this section. The music system that was installed in the gallery has increased its allure even further.
Armory Gallery
Ancient military relics from Odisha, like battle axes, swords, cannons, shields, and artillery, have been preserved in this portion of the museum. The personal firearm of the late Madhusudan Dash, who is credited with helping to create modern-day Odisha, is the most cherished item in this gallery.
Mining & Geology Gallery
Rich mines in the state, which have greatly aided in its economic development, contain semi-precious stones in addition to lead, chromite, lead, tin, iron ore, and lime. A diverse collection of these stones, minerals, and models of mining operations may be seen in this gallery, which was established with the help of the Directorate of Mines.
Epigraphy And Numistatics Galleries
The Epigraphy Gallery is proud to have authentic stone inscriptions, copper plate grants, estampages, and plaster-cast imprints on display. The numismatics gallery, on the other hand, features coins from pre-Mauryan and Mauryan times in addition to those from the Yadavas, Kusanas, Guptas, Kalachuris, and the Mughals, among other dynasties. Recent additions to the important coin collection of the Odisha State Museum in Bhubaneswar include gold coins from the Somavansis and Sarabhapuriyas.
Manuscript Gallery
37,000 of the rare manuscripts in this gallery’s enormous collection were written on palm leaves. These manuscripts have been divided into 27 categories, comprising, among others, Odia, Bengali, Nepalese, Persian, Sanskrit, and Telugu. In addition to writings on palm leaves, this wonderful gallery also contains writings on Kumbhi bark, Bhurja bark, bamboo leaf, and handmade paper.
Other notable artworks preserved in this collection include Gopalila paintings, a type of Odisha painting, miniature and calligraphic miniatures, and palm leaf manuscripts with paintings in the Odisha style. If you visit this section of the museum, you absolutely must see the manuscripts that are shaped like fish, parrots, swords, beaded malas, and fans.
Art And Crafts
A sizable collection of excellent artwork created by talented local traditional craftsmen is housed at the Art and Crafts gallery. Some of the noteworthy pieces in this section include enormous free-standing sandstone sculptures made in the style of the Konark Sun Temple, Panchmukhi Shiva, Kandarparatha, and various wood carvings.
Anthropology Gallery
The Anthropology Gallery features dioramas that capture tribal ways of life and culture in their natural setting and ethos. Their musical instruments are presented in audio form, which is delightful to hear. Along with the intricately detailed tribal hut assembly representing the original tribal home, tourists can also view medieval drapery and dress systems in this area.
The Patta Painting Gallery
Modern sculptures and paintings by artists including Buddha Charita, Tadakabadha, Ravananugraha, Nauka Vihara, Kandarpahasti, Kandarparatha, Kaliyadalana, and Taapoi are on show in this gallery of contemporary art. The six-headed Kartikeya artwork from the Kalachuri era, the four-handed Manasa figure from South Indian art, and a shattered temple pillar covered in Kosaliyan plastic design are some of the most recent additions to this collection.
The Paika Gallery
The Paika revolution, an uprising of the Paikas (a warrior tribe of the state) against British control, is the focus of this gallery, a recent addition to the complex. Twice daily, a unique light and sound display with the same subject is presented on campus. It has turned into a popular destination for visitors to this museum.
Ways To Reach Odisha State Museum
The museum is close to Kalpana Square in BJB Nagar, a popular area of the city, and getting there from the airport or train station is simple if you utilize the pre-paid taxi and auto-rickshaw services. The museum is only about 2 km from the Bhubaneswar Railway Station and only about 3 km from the Biju Patnaik International Airport. It takes around 8 minutes to go there through Janpath, Forest Park, and Ekamra Road.
Anyone interested in learning more about the rich history and cultural heritage of Odisha should pay a visit to the Odisha State Museum. The museum’s collection, which includes priceless archaeological relics as well as beautiful paintings and sculptures, provides a fascinating look into the state’s ancient history, art, and culture. The architecture of the museum is likewise a distinctive fusion of conventional and modern styles, reflecting the state’s rich cultural past. The vivid colors, exquisite sculptures, and rich history of Odisha may be experienced by visitors as they stroll through the museum’s galleries, gardens, and courtyards. The museum serves as a reminder of the state’s rich history and a useful tool for anybody curious about its diverse cultural heritage.