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Uttar Pradesh Museums

Bharat Kala Bhavan, Varanasi

Bharat Kala Bhavan lies within the sprawling grounds ofBanaras Hindu University. Its outstanding collection of sculpture, paintings and textiles began with the private collection of the enlightened Rai Krishnadasa.

The sculpture collection includes terracotta and clay objects, stone and bronze and cast metal objects. Ancient terracotta varying from ritual icons to toys to utilitarian objects date to the Indus Valley civilisation, Mauryan, Sunga and Gupta periods. Among the stone sculpture are red sandstone reliefs from the 2nd century BC Buddhist stupa at Bharhui and rare images and statues from well known schools like Gandhara, which saw the synthesis of Greek and Indian styles and Mathura, a powerful art centre during the Kushana period.

The large and impressive collection of textiles contain precious examples of Banaras silks and brocades, embroidered shawls from Kashmir and the rare Chamba rumak, once used to wrap ceremonial gifts and offerings were richly embroidered pieces with designs and stories from the life of Krishna.

Miniatures from almost all the great schools of painting are represented here: Mughal, Rajasthani and Pahari. Promient themes revolve around the dalliance Of Radha and Krishna as well as Krishna's many remarkable exploits like lifting Mount Govardhana. Especially exquisite is a miniature from GuIer-Kangra (1760-70) of Krishna bathing with thegopis, a part of the Bhagavata series described as painted by the 'painter of moonlight.' Among the paintings from the Mughal schools is a Hamzanama dating to the Akbar period and one entitled Hermitage of Shaikh Phool, a celebrated Sufi, painted by Bishan Das, Jahangir's chief portrait painter.

Bharat Kala Bhavan
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

Timings: July to April: 11.00 am to 4.30 pm May to June: 7.30 am to 12.30 pm
Closed on Sundays and university holidays.