State Museum Lucknow

The State Museum Lucknow is a prominent museum located in the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, India. State Museum Lucknow featuring Awadh art & artifacts, plus exhibits covering the area’s natural history along with Egyptian Mummy, archaeological antiquities especially of the Harappan, Mauyan Shunga, Kushana, and Buddhist era. The museum was established in 1863 from the collection of Colonel Abbot, and was given the status of ‘Provincial Museum’. These excavations and subsequent collections from the same contributed to the important Archeological section of the museum. The museum was renamed the ‘State Museum’ in 1950, with an expanded collection that necessitated better organization and a separate space. The museum was eventually shifted to an independent building in Banarasibagh. The building is located in the middle of the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Gardens (formerly the Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens) and the new museum premises were inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1963.

The State Museum Lucknow has a vast collection of antiquities, paintings, manuscripts, numismatics, and other objects. The collection of antiquities includes sculptures, terracotta figurines, coins, and other objects from the Indus Valley Civilization, the Mauryan Empire, the Gupta Empire, and other periods. The collection of paintings includes Mughal miniatures, Rajput paintings, and other styles of Indian painting. The collection of manuscripts includes Hindu and Buddhist manuscripts, as well as Islamic manuscripts. The collection of numismatics includes coins from ancient India, as well as coins from other parts of the world.

The State Museum Lucknow is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers of Indian history and culture. It is also a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Here are some of the highlights of the State Museum Lucknow:

The Ashokan Pillar: This pillar was erected by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. It is inscribed with edicts from Ashoka, promoting non-violence and tolerance.
The Gupta Sculptures: These sculptures date from the 4th to 6th centuries AD. They depict Hindu and Buddhist deities, as well as scenes from mythology.
The Mughal Miniatures: These paintings date from the 16th to 18th centuries. They depict scenes from the Mughal court, as well as religious and mythological subjects.
The Rajput Paintings: These paintings date from the 17th to 19th centuries. They depict scenes from Hindu mythology and Rajput history.
The Coins: The museum has a large collection of coins from ancient India, as well as coins from other parts of the world.

The State Museum Lucknow is a must-visit for anyone interested in Indian history and culture. It is a treasure trove of antiquities, paintings, manuscripts, and other objects that offer a glimpse into the rich and diverse history of India.

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