Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur

Built-in 1887, the Albert Hall Museum is one of the significant attractions in Jaipur. Located in the Ram Niwas Garden, it was a brainchild of British designer and architect Samuel Swinton Jacob. With the assistance of Mir Tujumool Hoosein, Jacob succeeded in giving the structure an Indo-Saracenic touch. Initially built as a town hall, it was later turned into a museum. Maharaja Ram Singh named it as Albert Museum to honor the then Princes of Wales, Albert Edward who was visiting at that time. The museum houses a rich collection of artifacts including paintings, jewelry, carpets, metal sculptures, and crystal works and coins from the Gupta, Kushan, Delhi Sultanate, Mughal and British periods. A very popular attraction of the museum is a very old Egyptian Mummy. With a grand collection of artifacts spread across 16 galleries, the museum is not only beautiful from the inside but also far more splendid on the outside. In the evening, the entire structure is deemed in yellow light which makes it look like gold. A paradise for history fanatics, the museum is apt enough to blow anyone's mind.

Also known as the Government Central Museum, the Albert Hall Museum is the oldest place of an exhibition in the state of Rajasthan. Opened in 1887, the institution is home to multiple galleries showcasing artifacts collected from all across the world. A large compilation of ancient objects ranging from coins, jewels, paintings, furniture, and much more adorn the galleries of the museum. Surrounded by serene gardens, it is located in the Ram Niwas Garden of Jaipur City.

History

The building was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, assisted by Mir Tujumool Hoosein, and was opened as public museum in 1887. Maharaja Ram Singh initially wanted this building to be a town hall, but his successor, Madho Singh II, decided it should be a museum for the art of Jaipur and included as part of the new Ram Nivas Garden. It is named after King Edward VII (Albert Edward), during whose visit to the city as the Prince of Wales, its foundation stone was laid on 6 February 1876.