MUSEUM OF KANGRA ART | Dharamshala
ARCHAEOLOGY / SCULPTURE GALLERY
A prestigious collection of sculpture and terracotta are displayed in the gallery. The gallery has on display the images and sculptures of the Post-Gupta, Gurjar-Pratihara and Kashmir styles, discovered from the various excavated archaeological sites in different parts of this region.
WOODEN ART GALLERY
This gallery has a collection of carved wooden panels, carved structural panels and a wide selection of traditional wooden household wares. Wood has been widely used for the architectural and sculptural art in the Himalayan interiors since the oldest times. On display in this gallery are the wooden patter (ornament box), garba (bowls), spinning wheels, mani (used for measuring grains), wooden boxes, kunala (platter), wooden clog (khadaon) with inlayed ivory work, wooden mask and a variety of other wooden wares.
TEXTILE GALLERY
This gallery has an exquisite display of delicately embroidered specimens of the Phulkari works, embroidered chogas, embroidered cholis, caps, velvet coats and the richly embellished throne carpet of Raja Sansar Chand.
Our Galleries
ANCIENT COIN GALLERY
The ancient coins have been one of the important sources for political, administrative, social, economic, religious and cultural history of various periods and provenance. Most of the ancient coins on display have come from the western and southern parts of Himachal Pradesh, which include the ancient punch-marked, Kushan, Yaudhey, Kunind and Hindu Shahi coins.
KANGRA MINIATURE PAINTING GALLERY
An integral part of Kangra art literature, the Kangra Miniature paintings belong to the school of Pahari paintings of the 18th to 20th century. The Kangra kalam is characterised by its softness, serenity, lyricism, superb composition and minute detailing, that reflect deep emotions. This gallery has on display miniatures on Ragmala, Baramasa, Nayika-bhed, Usha-Anirudh, among other themes
JEWELLERY GALLERY
This gallery has a fascinating collection of ethnic jewellery belonging to various communities – the Gaddies of Bharmaur (Chamba), the Pangwals of Pangi (Chamba), the Churahies of Churah (Chamba), the Kinnauras of Kinnaur, the Lahualas of Lahaul and the Gujjars of Chamba.
MANUSCRIPT GALLERY
The museum has a wide collection of manuscripts in various languages. The text of these manuscripts have been written in ink using quill pens (kalam) or brush. The illustrations in the painted manuscripts have been made using earthen and mineral pigments mixed with gum.
BRONZE ART GALLERY
This museum also houses other fascinating objects of a varied variety - musical instruments, both folk and traditional such as veena, ransinga, ektara, shehnai, etc.; a collection of anthropological art objects such as ainklu (traditional dish making utensil), kunala (high hipped platter), etc.; Bronzes and decorative art objects of different periods from various parts of the country such as paan-dana (beetle box), calumet base (hukka), deity faces (masks), etc.
MISCELLANEOUS GALLERY
This museum also houses other fascinating objects of a varied variety - musical instruments, both folk and traditional such as veena, ransinga, ektara, shehnai, etc.; a collection of anthropological art objects such as ainklu (traditional dish making utensil), kunala (high hipped platter), etc.; Bronzes and decorative art objects of different periods from various parts of the country such as paan-dana (beetle box), calumet base (hukka), deity faces (masks), etc.
