Museums & Galleries   In an effort to preserve Rajasthan's great heritage, many palaces and forts have been converted into museums, art galleries and archaeological sites. These all display a wealth of rare and unique collections including arms, weapons, paintings, manuscripts, potteries, photographs, ornate mirrored furniture, Persian carpets, and vintage cars. AJMER [city info] Government Museum Situated in the heart of Ajmers's old city and close to the railway station the museum is housed in the beautiful fort and palace built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1570. It was here that the British envoy Sir Thomas Roe met Emperor Jahangir in 1616. Archaeological Museum Located in the Dil-e-Aaram Gardens of Amer, the ancient capital of Jaipur, this museum was established in 1949. Prior to this, the excavated material from Rairh, Bairat, Sambhar, Nagar were housed at Vidyadhar Gardens in Purana Chat. In July 1949 the entire collection was transferred to Dil-e-Aaram Garden, a part of the old palace at Amer. An Art Gallery was inaugurated in 1992 in this complex. ALWAR Government Museum Housed in the old City Palace this museum has a unique collection of arms, bidri work, lacquered and ivory work, musical instruments, stuffed animals, miniature paintings, Persian and Sanskrit manuscripts and beautiful brass and pottery works from Jaipur, Multan, Bengal and Ceylon. Bairat Virat Nagar Museum Virat Nagar was the capital of the legendary Matsayadesli. Frequent references of Matsayadesh have been made in the Indian epic, the Mahabharat. During the epic period, the area around the district of Jaipur, Alwar and Bharatpur came to be known as Matsayadesh with Virat Nagar as its capital. The museum, although not very large holds a rich collection of excavated material such as pottery, pikkins, old coins, seals, metallic pieces, weapons and statues. BHARATPUR Covernaient Museum Located in the centre of the famous Lohagarh Fort, the Bharatpur Museum houses a large collection of archaeological wealth from the nearby areas. The huge palatial building Kachahari Kalan, once the administrative block of the rulers of Bharatpur state, was converted into a Museum in 1944. The Kamra Khas (personal chamber) building on the first floor was later added to the museum. BIKANER [city info] Junagarh Fort Museum Ganga Mahal, the imposing halls added by Maharaja Gailga Singh, now house the Fort Museum. It contains a fine collection of antique Rajput, weaponry, jade handle daggers, camel hide shields and inlaid handguns and camel guns. Cold and silver howdahs, jhulas, kis and a first world war biplane are also displayed. Photographs and items of personal use by Maharaja Ganga Singh and miniatures are also on view. Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum Established in 1937, just prior to the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Maharaja Gaiiga Singh, this Museum is now run by the Government of Rajasthan. Some principal sections of the museum are: the Maharaja Ganga Singh Memorial, local Arts and Crafts, History, Sculpture, a Terracotta and Bronzes Armoury, Miniature Paintings and Folk-Arts, the Dr. L.P. Tessitori Memorial Section and lithoprints of the British Interpretation of the war of Independence 1857. CHITTAURGARH [city info] Fateh Prakash Palace Museum A large section of the Fateh Prakash Palace was converted into a museum in 1968. It has a great collection of sculptures. Amongst the important ones is Ganpati (8th-9th century) from Pangarh and the Indra and Jain Ambica statues from Rashmi village. Also displayed are weapons, daggers and armoury. DUNGARPUR Dungarpur Museum A newly constructed museum named "Rajmata Devendra Kunwar State Museum and Cultural Centre, Dungarpur" was opened to the public in 1988. The sculpture gallery of the museum throws light on the history of Vagad Pradesh that spread over the present areas of Dungarpur, Banswara and Tehsil Kherwara in the Udaipur district. JAIPUR [city info] Albert Hall Museum Located in the centre of the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, this is the oldest Museum in the State. It was built in 1876 when King Edward VII visited India as the Prince of Wales. It was opened to public in 1886. Modern Art Gallery - Ram Niwas Bagh A small gallery in the first floor of the Ravindra Manch Auditorium shows a selection of works by well known modern artists and sculptors of Rajasthan. Hawa Mahal Museum Just behind the beautiful Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) in the adjoining Partap Mandir, a museum was set up in the year 1983. Preserved here is the sculptural heritage collected from Ganeshwar, Virat Nagar, Raid, Sambhar and Nagar. Maharaja Sawai Maan Singh II Museum Located within the City palace complex and nestled amidst old buildings, temples and the palace quarters, this museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. It exhibits ancestral collections built up by the successive rulers of Amer and Jaipur. JAISALMER [city info] Government Museum The Government museum in Jaisalmer is situated on Police Line Road near Moomal Hotel. It was opened in 1984. It houses a large collection of wood and marine fossils and gives an insight into the geological past of the area. Sculptures from the ancient townships of Kiradu and Lodurva dating back to the 12th century pulsate with youth and grace and depict the skill of the time. Folklore Museum This well organised museum is divided into six sections and has a rich collection of paintings, photographs, costumes, hairstyles and jewellery, utility articles of rural life, camel and horse decorations, fossils, ornamental arches and articles connected with folk and cultural lifestyles JHALAWAR Government Museum This museum is situated in the old Garh Palace near Bhawani Natya Shala. The sculptures and architectural fragments from the 8th century city of the Chandravati and sculptures and epigraphs from the Jhalrapatan region fill its galleries. JODHPUR [city info] Government Museum Located in the Umaid gardens on High Court Road, this museum has a large and interesting collection. There are many stuffed animals including a number of desert birds. The military section includes wooden biplane models and an extraordinary brass battleship. Mehrangarh Fort Museum An excellent museum with rare and interesting artefacts, textiles, paintings, transport items laid out with care and thought. The Palanquin and Howdah Galleries display a superb collection of old and costly specimens of great historical value. Umaid Bhawan Palace Museum The ruling family of Jodhpur has recently converted a part of the gigantic Umaid Bhawan Palace into a Palace museum. Items on display include rare collections of rocks, watches, fine china, ornate mirrored furniture, glass and crystal ware, photographs etc. KOTA Maharao Madho Singh Museum Situated in the old palace, the museum has a superb collelction of Rajput miniature paintings of the Kota school,exquisite sculptures, frescoes and armoury. The museum also houses a rich repository of artistic items used by the Kota rulers. The Government Museum Housed in the Brijvilas Palace near the Kishore Sagar, the museum displays a rich collection of rare coins,manuscripts and a representative selection of Hadoti sculpture.Especially noteworthy is an exquisitely sculptured statue brought here from Baroli. MOUNT ABU [city info] Museum and Art Gallery Located at the Raj Bhawan, it was a collection of archaeological excavations dating back to 8th-12th century A.D. It also has Jain bronze carvings,brassworks etc. for viewing. MOUNT ABU [city info] City Palace A majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake on a hill surrounded by crenallated walls, it is a conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. The main part of the palace is now converted into a museum. Among the items displayed is the Mor Chowk with beautiful mosaics of peacocks, the Manak or Ruby Mahal with glass and porcelain figures. Krishna Vilas has a remarkable collection of miniatures. Beautiful mirror work is displayed in the Moti Mahal. Other exhibits include the princely Rolls-Royces.