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Ganga Golden Jubilee
Museum
 Location :
Junagarh, Rajasthan
Attractions:
Antique Rajput weaponry, WWI biplane
Timing :
10 a.m.-4.30 P.M.
Closed :
All gazetted holidays.
Ganga Mahal, the imposing halls added by Maharaja Ganga Singh, now houses the Fort Museum. It contains a fine collection of antique Rajput weaponry, jade handle daggers, camel hide dhals (shields) and inlaid handguns and camel guns.
Gold and silver howdahs, jhulas, palkis and a First World War biplane are on view. Other important objects include a pair of drums belonging to jambhoji, the saint who predicated the foundation of the dynasty by Rao Bika for 450 years. Photographs and items of personal use by Maharaja Ganga Singh and miniatures are also on view.
Furgal (Silk Robe) Of Prince Salim, 1596 AD
The 'Furgal' was presented by Crown Prince Salim (Emperor Jehangir ) to Raja Rai Singh of Bikaner, one of his closest officials.
Historical Mughal Farmans
The History of Bikaner contains a colourful record of war adventures. More than half a dozen rulers lost their lives while participating in the imperial campaigns of the Mughals. Various 'Farmans' bearing original Imperial seals, issued by the Emperors - Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb and Shah Alam, are preserved in this museum.
Paintings
An exquisite collection of Rajasthani miniatures of almost all the sub-schools of Rajasthan such as Bikaner, Bundi, Mewar, Jaipur, Jodhpur etc. are on view here.
Terracotta
The museum has one of the finest collections of early terracotta art, in the country. These belong to the early Gupta period and were discovered in 1017 AD by Dr. L. P. Tessitori from the ancient Theris of Rang Mahal, Badopal, Pir Sultan-Ki-Theri located between Suratgarh and Hanumangarh of the old Bikaner state. The existence of these 'Theris' can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Some of these sites including Kalibangan are considered the oldest in India. It was in this area that the sacred river Saraswati is believed to have existed.
Sculptures
The sculpture of Jain Saraswati (11th-12th Century) is a unique piece of marble of four feet eight inches in height. Discovered from village Pallu (Ganganagar), it is a peerless example of medieval Indian sculpture. Nartaki (10th-11th Century) is a beautiful one foot high bronze image, discovered from large sand dune of village Amarsar in Tehsil Sujangarh (Churu.)
Lacquer Work
The museum has a fine collection of superb lacquered works, a craft special to Bikaner entirely done by the artisans, called Ustas (Ustaads), on wood, metal, glass, stone, leather and ostrich egg shells.
Wood And Stone Carvings
Bikaner stands almost unsurpassed in wood and stone carvings. A teak wood table and a wooden casket, a model of the Gajner Palace (Bikaner), a typical 'Ikka' (horse drawn cart) and chariot with minutest details are on view in the museum.
Open
: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed
: Friday and gazetted holidays.
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