Odisha State Museum

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The emaciated, frightening and almost fully sculptured sculpture of the goddess Chamunda is one of the most impressive exhibits in the museum.

The Odisha State Museum in the city of Bhubaneswar in the Indian state of Odisha (formerly Orissa ) is one of the most important museums on the Indian subcontinent , after the National Museum in New Delhi , the Indian Museum in Kolkata and the Government Museum in Chennai .

location

The Odisha State Museum is located about one and a half kilometers southwest of the railway station ( Railway Station ) of Bhubaneshwar or about one and a half kilometers north of the Lingaraja Temple .

history

The Odisha State Museum goes back to a collection begun in 1932 by two professors from Ravenshaw College in Cuttack ; the collection initially comprised archaeological finds from the region, later also relics (sculptures, coins) from all over India. In 1938, the government decided to create the Provincial Museum of Orissa , the collections of which have grown over the years. A few years after India's independence (1947), the capital of the state was relocated to Bhubaneswar, where - after several intermediate stops - a new museum building was inaugurated in 1960.

Departments

Four dancing tribal women made of wax with simple saris and country necklaces
  • The Archeology Gallery is the largest section of the museum and includes Buddhist , Hindu and Jain sculptures from all parts of India, some of which are also influenced by Tantrism .
  • The Epigraphy and Numismatics department contains tablets and coins from all periods of Indian history.
  • Weapons are shown in the Armory section; In addition, there are explanations of metalworking and murals with battle scenes.
  • The National History section, which is particularly popular with Indians, deals mainly with the natural history of India. You can see skeletons and specimens from extinct and endangered animals.
  • In the Arts and Crafts department , handicrafts (bronzes, musical instruments, textiles, etc.) are presented.
  • The Anthropology / Ethnology gallery shows exhibits and wax figure scenarios from the diverse and traditional rural areas of northeast India.
  • Another section shows palm leaf manuscripts that have a long tradition all over India.

literature

  • HC Das (Ed.): A Guide to Orissa State Museum. Bhubaneshwar 1981.

Web links

Commons : Odisha State Museum  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 20 ° 15 ′ 11.4 "  N , 85 ° 50 ′ 11.6"  E