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Jammu-Kashmir Museums & Art Galleries

Sri Pratap Singh Museum, Srinagar

Sri Pratap Singh Museum was once summer palace of the Kashmir maharajas. In 1898 the building became a the museum and the nucleus of the collection was based on ovjects from the Jammu and Kashmir toshkhana. These include shawls, paintings, arms and armoury, silver images, copper and jade ornaments, copper and brass utensils and Ladkhi hadicrafts.

Archaeological objects were axquired from excavations at Pandrethan, Parashpura and Avantipura and include pottery, terracotta tiles, metal and stone objects dating from the 2nd to 12th century AD. Life size status of the Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma are displayed chronological. Stone inscriptions in the Sharda, Persian and Arabic scripts depict the excellence of calligraphy. Ninth century potter}7 from Avantipura, 2nd century terracotta tiles from Hoinar (Pahalgam) and 3rd century Harwan tiles are also displayed.

The museum has more than 200 textiles which include the famed jamewar, spreads, gabbas and rumals dating from the Afghan period (1752 to 1947). The most outstanding piece is a map of Srinagar done in needlework. This was prepared during ihe reign of maharaja Ranjil Singh and presented to the Prince of Wales when he visited Kashmir. Later 'si was auctioned in England (rom where 11 found its way back to Kashmir. The iiiap has been embroidered according 10 (he topography of Srinagar as it was at that lime and depicts the important buildings, mosques, temples, gardens,rivers, bridges and lakes.

The rich collection of miniature paintings cover the Basohli, Kangra and Mughal schools and date to the 18th and 19th century, paintings of Krishna Sudhama series, paintings Krishna's birth and view. Among the manuscripts are a copy of the Holy Quran with the seal of Aurangzeb, a Shahnama, Bhagavad Gita, court papers, postal stamps in Sanskrit and Persian. A document written on birch bark in Sanskrit and Persian scripts relates to a decision given by Hazrat Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom Sahib, a well known Muslim saint of Kashmir, is rare exhibit.

Sri Pratap Singh Museum
Lal Mandi, Srinagar 190 008

Timing: 10.30 to 4.30 pm
Closed on Friday and governent holidays.