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Bihar Museum

Coordinates: 25°36′29″N 85°07′16″E / 25.6081°N 85.1210°E / 25.6081; 85.1210
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Bihar Museum
Bihar Museum is located in Patna
Bihar Museum
Location within Patna
Established15 August 2015 (2015-08-15)
LocationPatna, Bihar, India
Coordinates25°36′29″N 85°07′16″E / 25.6081°N 85.1210°E / 25.6081; 85.1210
TypeArt, archaeology, and children's museum
Key holdingsDidarganj Yakshi
Collections
  • Archaeology
  • regional art
  • contemporary art
DirectorSri Anjani Kumar Singh
Curator
  • Moumita Ghosh
  • Ranbeer singh Rajput
  • Nand Gopal Kumar
  • Vishi Upadhyay
  • Ravi Shankar Gupta
  • Shanker Jaikishan
[1]
ArchitectMaki and Associates + Opolis Architects
OwnerYouth Art & Culture Dept., Government of Bihar[2]
Nearest car parkavailable
Websitebiharmuseum.org

Bihar Museum is a state museum located in Patna.[3][4] It was partially opened in August 2015.[5] 'The children's museum', the main entrance area, and an orientation theatre were the only parts opened to the public in August 2015.[6][7] Later, in October 2017 remaining galleries were also opened. More than 100 artifacts were transferred here from Patna Museum.[8]

It was planned as a history museum for the state of Bihar,[9] and began construction in Bailey Road, Patna in October 2013 with an estimated budget of ₹498 crore (US$60 million).[10]

Overview

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Didarganj Yakshi with fly-whisk (chauri) is held in the right hand whereas the left hand is broken, in the Bihar Museum.

In July 2011, the Bihar Government signed a Memorandum of understanding with Canada-based consultancy firm Lord Cultural Resources in July 2011[11] to appoint them as the museum planning consultants for the project. In January 2012, following an international architectural competition, Japan-based Maki & Associates and its Indian partner OPOLIS, Mumbai were appointed as the primary consultant architect for the project.[12][13] The completed museum is spread over 5.6 hectares, having 24,000 square meters of built area.[14]

Lord Cultural Resources designed the exhibitions in the museum's nine permanent galleries.[15] Artefacts from ancient India to 1764 are on display in Bihar Museum's permanent gallery, while those of the post-1764 period are on display at the older Patna Museum.[16] The 2300 year old Didarganj Yakshi is among the highlight exhibits in the Bihar Museum.[17]

In October 2017, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Bihar Museum with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.[18]

Location

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It is located in Patna, the capital city of the East Indian state of Bihar. Its exact location is on the southern flank of Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Bailey Road, in Patna. It is spread over an area of 13.9 acres.[9] The site of the proposed museum was earlier occupied by seven old bungalows between LN Mishra Institute and Hartali Mor in Bailey Road. Later in March 2013, the building construction department demolished all the bungalows.[19]

Exhibits

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The Bihar Museum has several galleries. These include the Orientation gallery, the children gallery, the regional gallery, the contemporary gallery, the historical art galleries, the Bihari Diaspora gallery and the visible storage gallery. The exhibits on different subjects are displayed in separate galleries. Each gallery is huge and has many artifacts on display including ones dating back to the fourth century.[20]

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Orientation Gallery

The gallery gives an overview of the Museum and a theatre is located at the end of the gallery.[21] A brief film introducing the museum and its collections is screened in the auditorium regularly. Film shows on Bihar's timeline and Bihar's history are also shown.[22]

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Bihar Museum Children and Wildlife Section

Its collection of artefacts and exhibit items is divided into six domains: the Orientation Room, the Wildlife Sanctuary, the history sections on Chandragupta Maurya and Sher Shah Suri, the Arts and Culture section and the Discovery Room. Among the exhibits are a simulated the Asian paradise flycatcher, the Indian giant flying squirrel, animals, birds, trees and plants native to the state of Bihar. The gallery's focus is family learning; most exhibits are designed to be interactive, allowing children and families to actively participate.[23]

History galleries

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The gallery has various artefacts from the Harappan Civilization also known as Indus Valley civilization, the second urbanization and Haryanka. The whole collection of this gallery represents the advanced technology and sophisticated lifestyle of the Harappan people. The gallery has objects from the fourth century BCE to the first century BCE. It has objects spanning three major dynasties of India; the Mauryas, the Nandas and the Shishunagas. The gallery also houses fragments of railings from various ancient Stupas that are carved on with episodes from Buddha's and Mahavira’s life.[24]

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This gallery exhibits artifacts from the Gupta Dynasty (4th-6th centuries CE).[25]

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The gallery has curated exhibitions of Crafts, folk culture and traditions of Bihar.[26]

Historical Art

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The gallery’s main attraction is the Didarganj Yakshi.[27]

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Apart from the galleries, there is publication and education section, sales counter, cafeteria[28] etc. There is a restaurant for authentic Bihari cuisine, named as The Potbelly inside Bihar Museum.

Heritage tunnel to Patna Museum

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In January 2023, Government of Bihar appointed Delhi Metro Railway Corporation Ltd as consultant for the construction of a 1.4-km-long proposed subway (heritage tunnel) between Bihar Museum and Patna Museum.[29][30] In August 2023, cabinet of Bihar Government approved the construction of heritage tunnel at the revised cost of ₹ 542 crore.[31]

Accolades

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Bihar Museum's branding and wayfinding signage consultants Lopez Design Pvt. Ltd received multiple awards for their design for the museum's brand identity, including the iF Design Award,[32] German Design Award[33] and the Kyoorius Inbook Award 2016 in the Writing for Design category for its booklet I am Bihar Museum.[34]

In December 2019, the museum received the GRIHA Award along with a five-star rating. GRIHA stands for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment.[35]

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  • Children's Orientation
    Children's Orientation
  • Museum Entrance
    Museum Entrance

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bihar Museum.

References

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  1. ^ "'Kohbar' painting at Bihar Museum wows PM - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  2. ^ "कैसा होगा बिहार का नया museum?, iconic museum in Patna, New Bihar Museum in Patna | Biharplus". Biharplus.in. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. ^ "'Who says museum's incomplete?'". Telegraphindia.com. 14 September 2015. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  4. ^ "The grand sweep of history at Bihar museum".
  5. ^ "Bihar Museum a big draw for children, youngsters | Patna News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Museum galleries in bihar: Opening of 4 Bihar Museum galleries deferred to October | Patna News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Nitish Kumar inaugurates 'Bihar Museum'". Jagran Post. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Now, Bihar Museum to reopen on October 2 | Patna News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  9. ^ a b "BIHAR MUSEUM — Lord Cultural Resources" (PDF). lord.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. ^ Our Correspondent (10 July 2013). "First brick for heritage home". Telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ "Seal on culture museum design". Telegraphindia.com. 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Japan firm to design Bihar Museum". The Times of India. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  13. ^ "The Bihar Museun, Patna Photo". Maki and Associates (Tokyo) Japan. 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  14. ^ "The Bihar Museum, Patna". Maki and Associates. 14 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Bihar Museum". www.lord.ca. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  16. ^ "CM for expansion of old Patna Museum | Patna News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  17. ^ "This museum in Bihar houses a 2300-year-old sculpture carved out of a single stone". India Today. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  18. ^ "CM Nitish Kumar his guide, PM Modi 'experiences history' at Bihar museum". 14 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Patna heritage bungalows dismantled for museum". Zeenews.india.com. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  20. ^ "Galleries". biharmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Orientation". biharmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Bihar Museum a big draw for children, youngsters - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  23. ^ "Children's Gallery". biharmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  24. ^ "History Gallery A". biharmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  25. ^ "History Gallery B". biharmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  26. ^ "Regional Art". biharmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  27. ^ "Historical Art". biharmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  28. ^ "New museum a huge hit with pilgrims". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  29. ^ "DMRC named consultant for tunnel between Patna museums".
  30. ^ "Nitish Kumar asks officials to develop proposed subway between Bihar Museum and Patna Museum as a 'world-class heritage tunnel'".
  31. ^ "Rs 542cr for 1.5-km-long tunnel to connect 2 museums in Patna".
  32. ^ "IF - Bihar Museum Identity". ifdesign.com. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  33. ^ "Bihar Museum Identity - Winner - Brand Identity - German Design Award". www.german-design-award.com (in German). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  34. ^ "I am the Bihar Museum | Kyoorius Design Awards". Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  35. ^ "बिहार म्यूजियम को फाइव स्टार रेटिंग संग गृहा अवार्ड". Hindustan (in Hindi). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
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