Located within the City Palace complex and nestled amidst old buildings, temples and the palace quarters, this museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. The exhibits comprise of the ancestral collections built up by the successive rulers of Amer and Jaipur, and is presently run by a public charitable trust. A small selection of paintings, manuscripts, weapons and armours was displayed in the 'Pothikhana' (library) and the 'Silehkhana' or armoury (both of these in their present form, were established in 1952) of the palace.


However, the collection remained exclusive and was shown only to selective visitors and dignitaries with the special permission of the Maharaja. In 1959, this private museum consisting of the Pothikhana and the Silehkhana was thrown open to public and a new Textile and Costume gallery was added to it.

Timing : 9.30 A.M. to 4.45 PM.

Exhibits / Collection
The Art Gallery is housed in the Diwan-i-Aam constructed for holding important State functions. A variety of objects-miniature paintings, illustrated manuscripts, decorated bookcovers, palm-leaf and Sanchipat manuscripts, old printed books, gigantic Mughal carpets, gold and silver Takhis-Rawan (movable throne), covered Ambabadis and open Howdahs, palanquins and carriages with richly embroidered velvet coverings are displayed in this gallery. The museum has a splendid collection of miniature paintings including two unique and priceless manuscripts of the Persian translation of the two Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The latter work, specially made for the use of Emperor Akbar, known as the 'Razmnama', contains illustrations made by the greatest Mughal painters and is reported to have cost seventy two thousand gold mohurs in 1584-85 AD. Besides the finest miniatures of Amer-Jaipur school, evident in the illustrations of the Ragamala, Bhagavata Purana, Devi Mahatmya etc., good examples of early and later Mughal schools, Deccanese schools and fair specimens from Bikaner, Malwa, Bundi, Kota, Jodhpur, Kishangarh etc., are also represented. A fine collection of astronomical books in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit acquired by Sawai Jai Singh for study of the planets and their movements, an old copy of the Ain-i-Akbari and its Hindi translation done in 1797 AD and a rare manuscript on 146 forms of Saligram, Surdas' Padavali (contemporary copy) and the earliest copy of Bihari's Satsai are also on display. This manuscript collection consists of nearly 16,000 volumes.

There are rare bird and animal studies by Ustad Mansur and court scenes, battle scenes, portraits and mythological paintings by famous Mughal painters. Important examples of the Jaipur school consisting of life size portrait-studies of the Maharajas by Sahib Ram and the leading painters of the courts of Maharaja Ishwari Singh, Madho Singh I, Pratap Singh and Lagat Singh have been displayed in the gallery.

The large carpets displayed against the eastern and western walls of the art gallery were manufactured in the Mughal carpet factories at Agra and Lahore during the reign of Emperor Shahjahan. These are said to have been collected by Mirza Raja Jai Singh to decorate some of his newly-built palaces at Amer. Attention should be drawn here to the large Kishangarh masterpieces of Raja Sawant Singh and Bani Thani personified as Krishna and Radha and to a set of large cloth paintings from Hyderabad and Jaipur. Other objects on display in this section include book covers, paper cuttings, postage stamps and coins of the old Jaipur State, old photographs and negatives, old furniture, glassware and other decorative objects of art.

The 'Silehkhana' or the Armoury of the museum is housed in a beautifully decorated suite of rooms. It has one of the largest and finest collections of edged weapons and antique handguns in the country. The edged weapons include swords, curved Persian Unnas, slightly curved Mughal Shamshers, 'talwars', double-edged 'Khandas', pointed 'Guptis' and 'Asas', dagger-broad 'Jamdhars', curved 'Jamkhas', long and narrow 'katars', hiltless 'hanbwas' and 'Chhuris', lances, axes, knives and arrows of various shapes and sizes.
General Information
Main Attraction
Ancestral Collection Of House Of Amer, Jaipur.
Location
Inside City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Best Time
9.30 A.M. to 4.45 P.M.

Prime Attractions of Jaipur
Hawa Mahal
Jaipur's signature building, the Hawa Mahal, a multi layered palace, was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Famous for it's beehive like structure, the Mahal is an interplay of red and pink sand stone, carefully and painstakingly outlined with white borders and motifs.

Amber Fort
Overlooking the Delhi Jaipur Highway, the image of the Amber Fort is beautifully reflected in the lake below. Within the Fort lies the famous Jai Mandir (Temple) with its world renowned Sheesh Mahal, a hall full of Mirrors.

Govt. Central Museum
Located in the centre of the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, this is the oldest Museum in the State. The building was designed by Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob. It was built in 1876 AD when King Edward VII visited India as the Prince of Wales. It was opened to public in 1886 AD.

Jal Mahal
The Jal Mahal Palace, Jaipur is noted for its intricate architecture. The Palace was developed as a pleasure spot. It was used for the royal duck shooting parties.

Jantar Mantar
At the entrance to the City Palace is Jantar Mantar, the 'Yantralaya' of Sawai Jai Singh II, the last great classical astronomer in India. The modernistic structures known as 'Yantras' are the unique creations of this astronomer-king designed by him and built by experts to observe the movements of sun, moon, planets and the stars.

Nahargarh Fort
Beyond the hills of Jaigarh, stands the fort of Nahargarh like a watchful sentinel guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful capital.

Sheetla Mata Fair
The Sheetla Mata Fair is held in March-April, the month of Chaitra, in village Seel-Ki-Doongri, Jaipur. Doongri is a hillock on top of which the shrine of Sheetla Mata stands. The fair is held in her honour every year and attracts hordes of visitors from far and wide.