Dogra Art Museum
Situated at the heart of Jammu city, 3 Km from the Jammu Bus Stand, a museum preserving the precious past of Jammu and Kashmir- The Dogra Art Museum formerly known as Dogra Art Gallery.
When I visited the museum last time, it was just me with the glory of the past, it was heartening to see that the museum was empty. The locals were less interested while the Department has no will to promote it on the tourism map of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Dogra Art Museum, located in the glorious Mubarak Mandi Complex, which is itself a marvel, is the largest museum in Jammu and Kashmir. It has a wide collection, as old as the 4th Century to the modern 20th century. There are many artefacts inside the museum which attracts a number of intellectuals and history lovers.
Though the collection of the museum is composed of articles mainly from the Jammu belt, however, it is describing the rich cultural heritage of the whole Indian sub-continent.
Historical background of Dogra Art Museum
On 1954, April 18, the Dogra Art Museum was inaugurated by the first President of India Dr Rajendera Prasad at Gandhi Bhawan which is nearby the Mubrakah Mandi Complex.
At that time, the Mubarkh Mandi Complex houses various government offices, later when gradually all the offices shifted to other locations and the Complex went deserted this museum in Jammu shifted to the Mubarakh Mandi Complex from the Gandhi Bhawan.
Location:
Dogra Art Museum is located in the Mubarak Mandi Complex. Just 3 Km away from Jammu Bus Stand.
Dogra Art Museum Timing:
Dogra Art Museum is open from Morning 10 AM to 5 PM Evening.
The Museum is closed on Mondays for maintenance.
Dogra Art Museum Entry Fee
Entry Ticket for Dogra Art Gallery varies:
- Students Rs 5
- Indian Rs 10
- Foreigner Rs 50
Dogra Art Musuem Collection:
The Museum is divided into various Sections:
- Dogra Section
- Coin Section
- Artillery Section
- Miniature Painting Section
- Manuscript Section
- Oil Paintings Collection
- Jewellery Section
- Miscellaneous
Dogra Section
The Museum is named after the Dogras mainly residing in the Jammu region and some parts of the Himachal.
In the Dogra Section of the museum, you not only witness the rich cultural heritage of Dogras but also other ethnicities of Jammu and Kashmir- Kashmiris, Tibetans, Ladakhi, Gojri, Bakarwali and many more.
You can also see the variety of Traditional Dresses of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh inside the Museum
Portraits of many Dogra rulers can be seen inside the museum. Primarily I have seen the Portrait of Amar Singh.
Coin Section
Inside the Museum, the collection of coins is vast ranging from ancient to modern. You can see the coins issued by the Mughals, Kushans, Britishers, Dogras, Sikhs and many others who ruled the areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
I was amazed to see the diversity of the coins which was present in the museum.
Artillery Section
The Artillery Section of the Museum consists of old rifles, machine guns, armours, canons, spears, swords of the ancient Maharajas.
I had been to the ancient palaces and museums in the Deccan region of India and comparing with them the artillery section of the museum does not fascinate me that much but indeed, "Comparison is the thief of joy".
Miniature Paintings
When Mughal emperor Aurangzeb acceded the throne in Delhi he was not much of a person who understands Art. Aurangzeb put an end to the money given to the Artists in Delhi.
The Artists now fled to the Pahari region of Himachal and Jammu where the Rajas of Pal dynasty provided shelter to them. From then on the miniature Dogra paintings flourished in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu's Basoli region is well known for its miniature Dogra Paintings in which special attention is paid to precise detailing.
Earlier, I said that I was not that much impressed by the Artillery Section of the museum but honestly, for me, the Basoli Paintings was the most fascinating part of the museum. I was literally lost in the articulate detailings of the paintings.
The Dogra Art Museum is famous for the Rasmanjari Series of Basoli Dogra Paintings.
The paintings describe the ancient Vedic tales of Krishna Leela, Mahabharata, Ramayana etc.
The other fascinating thing I noticed and the most peculiar one is the long and proud moustaches of warrior Arjuna just as any other Dogra in the good old days.
Manuscript Section
The last time when I saw the manuscripts on leaves, I was at the Banaras Hindu University Museum. I was surprised to see the ancient manuscripts preserved in the Dogra Art Museum.
Other than the manuscripts on the leaves, manuscripts were written in Takri (script belongs to the Jammu region), Sharda (Script belong to the Kashmir region, primarily used by the Kashmiri Pandits of the valley).
You can also see the ancient manuscripts of Srimad Bhagwad Gita and other sacred texts in Devnagri, Urdu, Persian, Takri, and Sharda script.
Sagar Chand Oil Painting Section
In this section of the museum, various oil paintings are preserved. There are many sculptures which is the work of local artists from Jammu and Kashmir.
Miscellaneous
Sculptures of ancient Vedic Gods are also preserved which dates back to the 3rd Century.
Various pottery items and Terracottas found in Akhnoor is also preserved in the Dogra Art Museum.
Conclusion
I would really like to suggest you to visit the Dogra Art Gallery whether you are a local or a Tourist.
I found Dogra Art Museum very fascinating and refreshing which provides a new perspective of Jammu and Kashmir.
Frequently Asked Question
Q. Dogra Art Museum is famous for?
A. Dogra Art Museum is famous for the Rasmanjari Series of Basoli Miniature Paintings.
Q. Dogra Art Museum was inaugurated by?
A. The Museum was inaugurated by the first President of India Dr Rajender Prasad on 18th April 1954 at Gandhi Bhawan. Later the Museum was shifted to the Mubarak Mandi Complex.
Q. Who built Dogra Art Museum?
A. Dogra Art Museum was built by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. It was later inaugurated by the honourable President of India Dr Ranjendra Prasad.
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