Varanasi Museums and Art Galleries

(Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

There are some very interesting museums within the city of Varanasi, displaying all kinds of artefacts from bygone days, often of a religious nature. Just a matter of minutes from Varanasi, the Sarnath Archaeological Museum is likely to be of interest, as are the exhibits relating to the Maharajas of Banaras within the city's famous Ramnagar Fort.

The Bharat Kala Museum is amongst the most visited of all the museums in Varanasi and contains a number of large galleries, displaying stone sculptures and Buddhist reliefs, with favourites include Buddha Taming Nalagiri, the Mad Indian Elephant, a Griffin creature, ancient peacocks, and also a Dancing Ganesh (the Hindi elephant god).

Ramnagar Fort Museum / Maharaja Banaras Vidya Mandir Museum

Address: Ramnagar, India, IN
Just over 10 km / 6 miles from Varanasi and in the neighbouring city of Ramnagar is the Maharaja Banaras Vidya Mandir Museum, which is actually located within the Ramnagar Fort itself. Visitors to this cultural attraction will discover a rather eclectic collection of pieces, once the property of the Maharajas of Banaras. Highlights include weaponry displays, decorated 'howdahs' (seats for camels), an interest astrological clock, art works and paintings depicting past celebrations in Varanasi, intricate ivory carvings and colourful woven textiles.

Bharat Kala Museum

Address: Benares Hindu University, Varanasi, India, IN
Housing an extensive array of ancient Indian terracotta pieces, found within the city of Varanasi itself, the Bharat Kala Museum is one not to miss and resides within the campus of the Benares Hindu University. The majority of the exhibits dates as far back as the Mauryan or Sunga periods, and were discovered around the Indus Valley area while some even have origins within prehistoric times.

Sarnath Archaeological Museum

Address: Sarnath, India, IN
The Sarnath Archaeological Museum contains a number of truly ancient pieces. The main highlight is without question the capital, which once crowned Ashokan pillar and consists of four lions, standing back-to-back and widely regarded an a modern symbol of the country of India. The museum itself is located within nearby Sarnath, to the north-east of Varanasi, and also contains some other important pieces, excavated close by. Look out for the Buddha figurines and images showing the famous Hindi gods of Ganesh and Saraswati, amongst others.

Government Museum

The Government Museum contains a rich and impressive collection of antiquities and historical artefacts. Founded in 1874, the collection contains a number of archaeological relics found from the Mathura region, together with some detailed relief works, terracotta bowls, pottery vases, coins and bronze pieces. Particularly impressive are the collection of Mathura stone sculptures, which date as far back as the 3rd century BC.