Discover the glorious heritage of Madhya Pradesh Exploring through its captivating museums

Today is World Museum Day. Annually organized by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), a global association of museums and museum professionals, the goal is to raise public awareness about the importance of museums.

- MANDIRA MITRA

CITY MUSEUM, MOTI MAHAL (BHOPAL) The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is establishing a City Museum (Tourist Interpretation Centre / Citizen Engagement Centre) at the historic Moti Mahal in Bhopal. Located directly opposite Sadar Manzil, this museum will feature both tangible and intangible experiences that reflect Bhopal's historical and cultural dimensions—folk tales, natural diversity, spiritual heritage and social life.

Eleven Galleries in City Museum: The museum will house 11 thematic galleries. One of them, titled Mahakautar and Taal (City of Lakes), will showcase the geographical and historical evolution of Madhya Pradesh, including a tactile map of the state and Bhopal district highlighting biodiversity.

Another gallery will be dedicated to Raja Bhoj and his kingdom. The Lifestyle Gallery will recreate scenes of royal courts through historical paintings, featuring Nawabs, Begums, and Bhopali women. Hyper-realistic mannequins will depict court and public gathering scenes. The Royal Lineage Gallery will chronologically present the genealogy of rulers from the 17th century. A separate gallery will cover the formation of Bhopal as a capital city, narrating the journey from ancient settlements to independence.

State Museum, Bhopal, established in 1909 AD as the Edward Museum by the rulers of Bhopal state, the museum has undergone several transformations over the years.

The museum houses an impressive collection of outstanding art pieces and rare antiquities, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh. Spread across 17 galleries, the museum covers a wide range of subjects, including thematic galleries, prehistory and fossils, excavated materials, metal images, inscriptions, sculptures, royal collections, textiles, freedom movement, postal stamps, autographs, manuscripts, paintings, coins, weapons, documents from the mediaeval age, rare musical instruments, and other objects of archaeological and historical significance.