Museum sights in Rajasthan
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City Palace Museum
The City Palace museum includes the Mor Chowk, with its lavish mosaics of peacocks, the favourite Rajasthani bird. The Manak (Ruby) Mahal has glass and mirrorwork, while Krishna Vilas has a remarkable collection of miniatures (no photography allowed). In the Bari Mahal there is a pleasant central garden. The Moti Mahal has beautiful mirrorwork and the Chini Mahal is covered in ornamental tiles.
More wall paintings can be seen in the Zenana Mahal. There's a large tiger-catching cage near the Zenana Mahal entrance.
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Museum
Hidden away within the City Palace is an excellent government museum . Its eclectic exhibits evoke the extravagance of the maharajas' lifestyle: stunning weapons, stuffed Scottish pheasants, royal ivory slippers, erotic miniatures, royal vestments, a solid silver table, and stone sculptures, such as an 11th-century sculpture of Vishnu. There are also some striking 'widescreen' paintings of Imperial processions.
Somewhat difficult to find in the Kafkaesque tangle of government offices, it's on the top floor of the palace, up a ramp from the main courtyard. However, there are plenty of people around to point you in the right direction and from there you can follow the signs…
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Crystal Gallery
There’s a stunning crystal gallery at the Fateh Prakash Palace Hotel, though the admission charge is rather expensive. Maharaja Sajjan Singh ordered this rare crystal from F&C Osler & Co in England in 1877; he died before it arrived, and all the items stayed packed up in boxes for 110 years. The extravagant, unused collection includes crystal chairs, sofas, tables and even beds. Photography is prohibited.
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Government Museum
Akbar built this imposing palace in 1570 – partly as a pleasure retreat, but mainly to keep a watchful eye on local rulers. It was here, on 10 January, 1616, that Sir Thomas Roe, ambassador of King James 1 of England, was given the first official audience by the Emperor Jehangir. Akbar's Palace houses the government museum, which has a small collection of stone sculptures, weapons and miniature paintings.
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Government Museum
The small, seldom-visited government museum features a diorama illustrating local tribal life, some hill-dwellers' artefacts, and a few miniature paintings. The highlight, though, is the sculpture gallery, with works from the ancient town of Chandravati, 7km from Mt Abu, dating from the 6th to the 12th centuries. Note the sculpture of the snake goddess Vish Kanya breastfeeding a snake - something not to attempt at home.
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Haveli Nadine Prince
Haveli Nadine Prince has been restored to its former dazzling glory and the admission includes a detailed guided tour. The 1802 building is owned by French artist Nadine Le Prince, who has turned it into an art gallery and cultural centre and has done much to publicise the plight of Shekhawati. Long-term artist residencies are available, There’s a cafe as well as the contemporary art gallery.
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Desert Culture Centre & Museum
Next to the Tourist Reception Centre is the Desert Culture Centre & Museum, which has interesting information on Rajasthani culture, as well as textiles and traditional instruments. A new addition is the interactive mini-DVD presentation which helps bring the static exhibits to life. There’s a nightly one-hour puppet show at 6.30pm.
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Brahma Kumaris Museum
There is a Brahma Kumaris museum in the town centre, the entrance of which is labelled 'Gateway to Paradise'. The museum outlines the university's teachings through the means of wonderfully kitsch light-up dioramas, and attempts answers to teasers such as 'How can world peace be established?' in a manner of which old Walt himself would have been proud.
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Ahar Museum
About 2km east of Udaipur are over 250 restored cenotaphs of the maharajas of Mewar; it's a spectacular city of snowy domes built over a period of 350 years. Nearby you can visit the patchy remains of the Sisodias' ancient capital, and the Ahar museum, housing accompanying artefacts, some over 5000 years old.
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Dr Ramnath A Podar Haveli Museum
The Dr Ramnath A Podar Haveli Museum, built in the1920s on the eastern side of town, has been colourfully restored with vibrant murals. Several rooms feature galleries on Rajasthani culture, from turbans and tablas to mini polystyrene forts.
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City Palace Government Museum
The City Palace government museum is based in the City Palace complex. Exhibits include a freaky monkey holding a lamp, as well as more serious stuff, such as sculptures, and maharaja portraits with a spectacular array of moustaches.
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Jaisalmer Folklore Museum
Admission to the Desert Culture Centre includes entry to the small Jaisalmer Folklore Museum, which has traditional everyday items, ranging from camel ornaments to opium bottles.
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Birla Lakshmi Narayan Temple
At the foot of the small fort of Moti Dungri is the modern Birla Lakshmi Narayan Temple, with splendid marble carving. Free guides explain aspects of the temple.
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Sri Sadul Museum
The Sri Sadul Museum features lots of fascinating old black-and-white photographs and some evocative maharaja accessories. You can stay in the Lalgarh palace.
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Government Museum
The small government museum has a limited but well-captioned collection of fossils, puppets and textiles.
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Vintage & Classic Car Collection
The maharajas’ Vintage & Classic Car Collection is fascinating for car buffs, with 22 splendid vehicles, including a 1938 Cadillac with modifications for purdah and the beautiful 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom used in Octopussy. If you enjoy a vegetarian thali, it’s not a bad lunch option (lunch 11am to 3pm, dinner 7pm to 10pm).
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