Must-see museums showcasing Indian rural culture
Planning your next travel itinerary? Here are five fascinating museums across the country that will bring you closer to the vibrant cultural heritage of India.
The first International Museum Day was coordinated in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to encourage dialogue between museums and the public. Since then, May 18 has been commemorated annually as International Museum Day to highlight the important role played by museums in the development of society.
They serve as repositories preserving the rich cultural heritage of communities and societies. Without the creative efforts of museums, several elements of Indian heritage would have been extinct today.
Village Square brings to you a list of six such museums you can visit during the approaching summer vacations to witness how they work to preserve the rural and indigenous cultures of India.
Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum
Location: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Days: Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Monday)
Timings: 12:00 noon to 08:00 pm
Entry Fee: ₹20 (Indians), ₹400 (foreigners)
Lauded for its vibrant interior, art installations and full-scale models showcasing the rural and tribal heritage of Madhya Pradesh, this museum is a grand storehouse of the indigenous cultures of central India. It serves as a platform for mutual dialogue between rural and urban societies.
There are naturally occurring materials like wood, bamboo, stones and modern techniques like lighting and audio-visual mediums to create an enthralling atmosphere in the museum. It hosts several interesting galleries, like one dedicated to sports and games enjoyed by children of tribal communities.
Jewellery, artefacts, paintings and more from tribes like the Bhils and Gonds are also on display for visitors. The realistic models of trees inside the museum give it a life-like feel.
Veechar Museum
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Timings: 3 pm-10:30 pm
Days: Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Monday)
Entry Fee: ₹50 (adults), ₹20 (children up to 11 years), ₹100 (foreigners)
A unique utensil museum located in the bustling city of Ahmedabad, the Veechar museum is known to attract visitors with its village-like environment and representation of rural Indian culture through a vast collection of utensils.
The hut-like museum exhibits a range of vessels handed down through generations, which stand as a testament to the genius art and technologies that existed before the onset of modern inventions.
Other than vessels of metal and clay, the museum also showcases cooking instruments, everyday objects, statues and artefacts.
Tribal Museum, Araku
Location: Araku valley, Andhra Pradesh
Days: Everyday
Timings: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Entry Fee: ₹10 (adults) ₹5 (children)
In the heart of the Araku valley, near Padmapuram botanical gardens stands this picturesque tribal museum, fashioned out of mud and metal. Established by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation in 1996, it aims to conserve the rich tribal culture of Araku.
The museum exhibits everyday objects such as jewellery, hunting tools and kitchen tools, while life-sized statues offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the Araku tribes to visitors. The museum also features a tribal arts and crafts centre for workshops and seminars about tribal folk art.
One can also buy souvenirs and handicrafts from a shop set up in the museum complex.
Silvassa Tribal Museum
Location: Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Days: Everyday
Entry Fee: Free
Located in the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the Silvassa Tribal Museum offers a glimpse into the lives of native communities of this region.
The museum serves as a repository of the cultural heritage of tribes like the Kokna, Kathodia, Varli and Dodhiya among others. It hosts a range of agricultural and hunting instruments, ornaments, musical instruments and other household articles used by these indigenous communities.
Dolls and statues are also employed here to showcase the tribal way of living. One can see the masks and headgear of tribal communities here.
Saputara Tribal Museum
Location: Saputara, Gujarat
Days: Monday to Sunday (closed on Wednesdays and 2nd and 4th Saturdays)
Timings: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Entry Fee: ₹5 (adults), ₹50 (foreigners)
Established in 1970, the Saputara Tribal Museum in Gujarat is a popular tourist attraction, showcasing artefacts, antiques and paintings that reflect the indigenous culture and traditions of the Dangs, and other tribes of Gujarat.
Through the display of statues and dolls, the lives of the rural Gujarati population are illustrated. The museum also showcases handicrafts, masks, pottery, utensils, instruments and costumes of these native communities.
Over 400 exhibits of this kind are up for display at this museum.
DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum
Location: Muthukadu, Tamil Nadu
Timings: 10 am-5 pm.
Days: Monday to Sunday (closed on Tuesday)
Entry Fee: ₹150-175 (adults), ₹350 (foreigners)
Muthukadu’s vibrant DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum established by the Madras Craft Foundation was opened to the public in 1996. This museum is a creative wonder reflecting rich south Indian customs and traditions.
It exhibits 18 heritage houses showcasing the culture of communities like weavers, merchants, traders and fishermen through architecture, paintings and artefacts.
Among some of the intriguing exhibits are the Ilkal weavers house, the Chikmagalur house and the Tamil Nadu merchant house. These offer visitors a life-like experience of ancient rural south Indian lifestyles.
The lead image at the top shows the Veechar museum in Ahmedabad, which displays rural Indian culture through a vast collection of utensils. (photo courtesy www.gujarattourism.com)
