Museum visits are always memorable. After all, to immerse yourself in art and culture in different art galleries as you travel across cities is a special feeling! And when it comes to museums and art galleries, Gujarat always wins. With incredible museums, Gujarat is a perfect place to lose yourself in art. So here we have curated a list of 5 stunning museums in Gujarat that will totally inspire your awe.
1. Rotary Dolls Museum
If you love dolls then the Rotary Dolls Museum is the place you should be in! Holding more than 1400 dolls, Rotary is one of the major museums in Gujarat. The dolls here are sourced from all over the World and one can know a lot about the culture and ethnicity of the native places the dolls belong to, just from their clothes. Quite interesting, we say! You will also find explanatory displays about the origins of the dolls in the museum.
Where: 2nd floor, Nagrik Bank Building, Yagnik Road, Opp Heera Panna Complex, Jagnath Plot
When: 9:30 am to 1 pm, 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm
2. Kutch Museum
The Kutch Museum, established in 1877, is one of the oldest museums in Gujarat. The concept and commission for the building of this museum were done by Maharao Khengarji. Known as the Fergusson museum in the past, the major focus of the museum is its collection of antique coins. And if you wish, you can also take a look at the local indigenous currency of Kutch, ‘Kori’, here. Other collections of the museum include Musical instruments, a collection of tribal jewellery, tribal headgear/costumes, metal statutes, paintings, arms, metalwork, and more.
Where: Ghanshyam Nagar, Bhuj
When: 10 am to 1 pm, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Closed on Wednesdays
3. Watson Museum
Dedicated to British political agent John Watson, the Watson Museum in Gujarat holds ancient 13th-century artifacts, princely exhibits, handicraft items, and pottery goods. Watson is also one of the most beautiful museums in the city and is known for its mesmerising setting. Situated within the Jubilee gardens, its collection has items that have been donated by numerous royal British families. We are sure you will fall in love with its exquisite jewellery and textile displays that represent the Ahirs, Bharwads, and Darbars lineages.
Where: Jubilee Garden, Rajkot
When: 9 am to 1 pm, 3 pm to 6 pm, Closed on Wednesdays
4. Baroda Museum and Art Gallery
Established in 1887 by Maharaja Sayaji Gaekwad, Baroda Museum and Art Gallery is one of the oldest museums in Gujarat. Its unique collection includes Egyptian antiques, sculptures made by European artists, Tibetan arts, and Akota Bronzes that date back to the 5th Century AD. However, the museum is known for its two main attractions – an actual Egyptian mummy and the gigantic skeleton of a blue whale.
Where: Dak Bunglow, Sayajigunj, Vadodara
When: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, Closed on Sundays
5. Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya
The Gandhi Sangrahalaya in Gujarat is famous for holding numerous belongings of Mahatma Gandhi. It’s one of the most famous museums in Gujarat and has in store Gandhi Ji’s paintings, manuscripts, books, artifacts, and more. The writing desk and spinning wheel where Gandhiji spent most of his hours are two of the most popular tourist attractions of the museum. And for all the book works out there, the museum also has a good amount of books on Gandhiji’s life and philosophy. So whenever you visit, dig in!
Where: Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Ashram Rd, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
When: 10 am to 7 pm
Now that you know of these beautiful museums in Gujarat, which one are you visiting first? Do let us know in the comments section below!
Feature image courtesy – Twitter/Gujarat Tourism