Khajuraho Museum

Archaeological Museum is considered as an important Khajuraho tourist attraction. As we know that Khajuraho is a town at Chatarpur District in Madhya Pradesh of Central India. Khajuraho Temples are famous for its art and sculptures. It also has three museums in the vicinity of the temples in Khajuraho. A.S.I maintains the arcaeological museum near the Matangeshwar temple in the Western group of temples, Adivart Tribal and Folk Art Museum is in the Chandela Cultural Complex and Sahu Shantiprasad Jain Kala Sangrahalaya is near the Eastern group of temples. Dhubela Museum is on the Jhansi - Khajuraho road and houses artefacts related to Bundela Dynasty. The Archaeological Museum (ASI), has a small but well-presented collection of sculptures from around Khajuraho near Matangeshwar Temple of Western group of temples ticket to the western group of temples, is also the entry ticket for the ASI Museum. This museum is located in Chandela Cultural Complex. Adivart Tribal and Folk Art Museum makes a colourful change from the temples. It gives a peek into Madhya Pradesh’s vibrant tribal culture.

MUSEUM OBJECTIVE

It is common practice to establish museum at sites where excavation work has been done. During such work, their are many things discovered and need to be preserved and showcased properly. Museum serves that basis purpose. With this intention, Khajuraho museum was established. It given an opportunity to interact with professionals and public, to promote mass movement with regard to public participation in museum activities. Visiting such place promotes proper ethical and scientific approach for museum as well as archaeological work. Museum helps to promote proper management and new ideas for museum development and archaeological research.

MUSEUM HISTORY

Read about Khajuraho museum history. W. E. Jardine was the keen of art and sculptures. He was the political agent of Bundelkhand of that time. The loose sculptures and other cultural remains were collected from the ruined temples and preserved in an enclosure which laid the foundation of museum in the year 1910. This thoughtful collection still continues to be known as Jardine Museum. However, the present museum near the market complex, conceptualized in 1952, after the Archaeological Survey of India took over its charge, is known as Archaeological Museum, which is the museum open to public. The present museum was established in 1967 and comprises five galleries that have sculptures symbolic of the Jaina, Brahmanical and Buddhist faiths. A good number of well carved sculptures are exhibited in the present museum, in a modern display concept. It consists of five galleries, a Varandah and the gateways. The galleries are named as Main Hall and Veradah display, Jaina Gallery, Vaisnava Gallery, Miscellaneous Gallery, Saiva Gallery. The museum possesses more than three thousand sculptures and architectural member of which about 110 are on display. The antiquities are ranging from 9th to 12th Cent. A.D. which throw significant light on social-cultural aspect of the region. The displayed period piece are primarily associated with the Chandella’s, a powerful medieval dynasty which ruled over the region around Khajuraho, anciently known as Kharjura-vahaka the religious capital of the times . The archaeological Museum, Khajuraho houses 3424 registered antiquities including sculptures of different sects, among which the Saiva, Vaisnava, Sakta cult and Jaina images are significant one. The secular objects like celestial nymphs; scenes depicting social life and the erotic and amorous couples also deserve attention of the general visitors.

MUSEUM TIMING

During Khajuraho tour, tourists can visit to Khajuraho temples and Khajuraho museum. As per available information, Khajuraho museum timing details are given below:
Visitor's Timing: 08:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on Every Friday.
Entrance Fee for Indian, SAARC & BIMSTEC Country Citizens = 10.00 INR Per Person Per Visit
Entrance Fee for other Country Citizens = 250.00 INR Per Person Per Visit
Email: museumkhajurahoasi@gmail.com
As per above information, visitors can plan their visit to Khajuraho museum. At is managed by Archaeological Department of India, they retain the right to amend the visitors timing or fee structure. At present, children below 15 years are complementary.

MUSEUM PLAN

Khajuraho museum building is divided into verandah and office area. Here objects are categorized and placed into 5 locations, within buildings. Among them, Vaishnava gallery and Saiva gallery are in office area and Jaina gallery, main hall and miscellaneous gallery objects are in Verandah area. Vaishnava gallery exhibits Vaishnava images like Sheshasayi Vishnu, Dasavtara lintel, Sun god etc. Saiva gallery highlights Saiva and Sakti images like Parvati images, Bhairava images, Pratihara, Brahma images. Jaina gallery is in left of main hall and exhibits Jaina sculptures like Manovega devi with her horse, Ambika devi under Mango tree etc. Miscellaneous gallery displays bojects of secular nature like Nymphs in different moods, dancers, drummers, amorous couples, animals etc. By using the same ticket, purchased for monument visits, tourists can visit this museum.

LOCATION

ASI Museum is situated in Chattarpur District of Madhya Pradesh in Central India. The Museum is near to Matageshwar temple of a small village named Khajuraho. The beautiful little village of Khajuraho lies in the central state of Madhya Pradesh in Chattarpur district. Madhya Pradesh is the largest Indian state. The Vindhyan range runs through Madhya Pradesh. Khajuraho is located on the rock bed of Chattarpur. It is of fine Bundelkhand gneiss, and believed to be the oldest rock in India. Valleys and ravines of the Vindhyas rise the magnificent and much revered rivers of the state: the Narmada, Sone, Chambal and the Ken or Kiyen , which is the closest to Khajuraho. Near Khajuraho the Ken has banks of red sandstone, and the river plunges through sandstone gorges creating magical waterfalls and peaceful pools.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Khajuraho, home to the famous temples and monuments which have been inscribed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, is best visited upon arrival of winters in India. Climate wise, the months of October till March is ideally suited to visit the Group of Monuments in Khajuraho. The average temperature remains close to 20°C (68 °F) during the month of October till February making it ideal for outdoor activities like temple visit. If you want see only museums than you can come any time of the year.

IMPORTANT LINKS