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Location:On the main
Bhairon Marg, off the Mathura Road, opposite Purana Qila at
the southern end of Pragati Maidan
Time to Visit:Tuesday-Sunday,
Monday closed
Preferred Timings: 10.00
AM to 5.00 PM
Admission Fee: Free and
open to all.
Photography charges:
nil, permission required
How to Reach: Tourists
can either take local buses from various points within the
city to reach this museum or they can hire auto-rickshaws and
taxis or metro rail.
Nearest Railway Station:
Nizamuddin Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station:
Pragti Maidan
Functional Metro Station:
Central Secretariat
Nearest International
Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Time required for
sightseeing: Approx 60 minutes
On the main Bhairon Marg, off the Mathura Road, opposite
Purana Qila at the southern end of Pragati Maidan lies the
Crafts Museum, one of the most fascinating and intriguing
museums of the capital. Home to artworks and artefacts that
are the envy of the world, every gallery of the museum gives
you an overwhelming art experience. Though developed mainly as
a reference center for the craftsmen of the country to
encourage and help them to continue with their traditional
arts and crafts in this modern technological era, Crafts
Museum has become a very special place to visit over a period
of three decades to view the diverse traditional Indian arts,
crafts and textiles under one roof. Designed by Charles
Correa, the museum being a part of the village complex, also
houses various styles of huts found throughout the country
thus introducing the visitors to the 'rural' India in the
bustling metropolis.
Crafts Museum has proved itself to be a hive of creativity
with permanent collection of over 20,000 items of folk and
tribal arts, crafts and textiles from various parts of the
country. A wide range of exhibits are represented including
lamps and incense burners, papier-mâché, clay and terracotta
pots, folk and tribal paintings, jewellery and textiles, cane
and bamboo work in different galleries of the museum.
Do visit the Tribal and Rural Craft Gallery to view the
popular wooden images of Bhutas (protective spirits) from
coastal Karnataka, tribal bronzes, masks, metal ware, puppets
and woodcarvings from different parts of the country. The
Gallery of Courtly Crafts has on display the 19th century
Gujarat's Kathiawar mansion with beautiful interiors,
exquisite jewelries, wonderful bullock carts and 19th century
recherché trappings of elephants embroidered with gold and
silver threads.
The Textile Gallery provides an excellent opportunity to the
visitors to discover the amazing textile heritage of the
country and gain an insight into the development of the
industry. Different varieties of saris from all over the
country like chanderi, kota, ikkat, banaris, bengal tat,
paithani, balkalam, Kanjivaram, bandhini, embroidered clothes,
Lakhnavi chikan work, kantha work of Bengal, Punjab's phulkari
work, kalamkari art and many more rare pieces of art are on
display in this section. The courtyard has one of finest
treasures of the museum, the imposing chariot, which would
impress any seasoned tourist.
Apart from interaction and live presentation by the artisans
themselves, there is also a reference section with about 15000
objects, which can be used by scholars, designers and artists.
The Crafts Museum Shop on the premises sells books,
picture-postcards and a whole range of exquisite contemporary
handicrafts. The objective of the shop is to sell original
creations of the finest Indian crafts persons and not to
market mechanically replicated souvenir.
Special Attraction/ Annual Event
The shop of the museum sells original souvenirs and
handicrafts made by the skilled artificers of the country. The
museum also organizes various workshops. For details check
with local authorities. |
