Bhandrasar Jain Temple Bikaner

The Ganga Goldan Jubilee Museum (3 K.M.)

 Bikaner Museum was founded by his Majesty Ganga Singh, the 21st ruler of Bikaner state, on the occasion of his goldan jubliee in 1937, whin he complited fifty years of his reign. A big celebration was held and signitaries from overseas graced the festivity. Inauguration of this museum was done by lo9rd Linlithgow the then Viceroy of British India.

At first the museum was housed in a sand stone building near the Lalgarh palace, but it was rather a small building. So a mew building was constructed and his majesty Karni Singh declared it open to visitors on Sept.4/1954. In the first six years of its inauguration it remanined in charge of the state goverment of Bikaner. Then in 1950 it was handed over to the state goverment of Rajasthan. Bikaner Museum comprises some of the very precious archaeological pieces which prove that a cultured civilization flourished in the area of Bikaner division from 320 A.D. to 1200 A.D. Most of these archaelogical pieces were discovered by the Great ltalion scholar Sir Luigi Pio Tessitory, who was appointed for the archaeolofical survey of this region by his highness Ganga Singh in 1915 A.D. And Dr. Tessitory surveyed the area of Badopal, Pir Sultan ri Theri, Ranga Mahal and Munda etc, between Suratgarh and Hanumangarh divisions of Bikaner State and he found such remarkable pieces as made this museum famous in the whole India. Bikaner Museum has two floors (Ground floor and first floor). Further reference is given as follows-

Ground floor.

As soon as you enter room no. One you see two stuffed figures of a lion and tiger in a glass case. It shows that the rulers of Bikaner state were adventurous, and those particular animals were hunted by his majesty Ganga Singh (1887-1943 A.D.). The room also exhibits numerous black and white photographs of British India, and English travellers are suggested to see those photographs attentively as they may recognise some of their forefathers.

On the other side of the same room, seven life size paintings are displayed. These depict his majesty Ganga Singh and some contempotaty dignitaries. Master painters Mr. A.H.Mullar, Mr. Jemes Genthric and Mr. William Orphan made all these paintings. See the painting carefully; they deserve your attention.

Second room.

(Above the gate on the wall is inscribed, 'Art section')

The following items are exhibited in thix section.

1. Art pieces of wooden work, made in Bikaner State.

2. Art pieces of glasswork, made in Bikaner State.

3. Metal post of Bikaner State.

4. Gilded leaf paintings on camel hide vessels.

Additional information of wooden work.

There is a carved teak wood casket displayed in one of the shelves of glass in room no. two. This wooden casket is a unique example of wooden art.

Glass work

In one shelf some glass vessels are kept, these pots are called liquer set. Once during the reign of his majisty Ganga Singh (1887-1943 A.D.) there was a glass factoryin Bikaner state and glass pots were exported, but now time is changed and the factory of the state time was closed many years ago. Its walls are now perishing but the perishing but the producation of the factory is still shining in the foom No second of Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum of Bikaner.

Glided leaf work on camel hide

One of the most elaborate, attractive and lovely sights of room no.two is glided leaf work. It is the typical art of the 'usta' artisans of the Muslim community. In the past, pots of this kind were exported to some countries on repeated demand.

Room no. three

This room shows to you lots of carpets of Persian look, but prisoners of Bikaner jail made them during state time. These are really beautiful carpets, even today the same type of carpets are made in the central jail of Bikaner, in side Kote gate.

Room no. four

It shows to you some life size paintings related to the Bikaner state and some other lords and warriors of the Muslim community. The great master of paintings Mr. A.H. Mullar made these paintings.

Room No. five

This room exhibits the weapons of Bikaner State loke arrows, bows, daggers, swords, spears, war drumsm, pistols, Guns, cannons etc. Among them the most prominent is a dianomd studdeed swork and shild of his Majesty Lord Bika. (Lord Choonda was the founder of Rathore dynasty of Rajasthan.) Lord Choonda fought his last war at a village known as Jegla (40 K.M. from Bikaner and juat 3 K.M. from Deshnode where there is a Rat temple.) During the afore said was the opponints of Rao Choonda were the lork of Pugal (50 Miles in the north West Side of Bikaner) and Lord of Multan. In that was lord Choonda sustained a fatal sword wound at immortal field of Jegla village in 1413 A.D.

Room No. six

Though it is the last on on the ground follr, yet the most important as it has the privilege of housing very important archaeological pieces like pots, shards, Beads, blades, Terracotta figurines, sculpture etc. Most of these pieces were discovered by the great Italian scholar Dr. L.P.Tessitory and this archaeological discovery proves that a cultured Civilization flourished during the Gupta period (320-540 A.D.) between Hanumangarh and Suratgarh Devisions of Bikaner state and this civilization continued up to 1000-1100 A.D.

Jain Deity (exhibited in room no. six)

It is a marble sculpture of the goddess of learning of Jainism. This marble made image is known in Hindi languge as 'Jain Saraswati discovered by the Italian scholar Dr.L.P.Tessitory, and it was discovered fri\om the Pallu village of Bikaner state. This marvle sculpure is one of the freatest and most beautiful images of madiaeval India and the folden jubilee museum is proud to possess it. Itsgrace and pose, the charming perfection of its anatomy, its smole of beatitude and the liquid softness of its dreamy eyes all this made the marble image of the deity is four feet and one inch high. It is also printed on the black and white folded pamphlet of the department of tourism. Govt of Raj. The folded pamphlet is distribrted free of cost to travellers Fortunately Mr. Tessitory found two statues of this foddess of Jainism. One is kept in the national muserm of Delhi and the other adorns the glory of the Ganga Galden Jubilee Musium of Bikaner State. You are invited to see theis peerless example of art.

First story of Bikaner Museum.

This section shows a wide rangeof miniaturepaintings, but these paintings are kept in a protected gallery and to see them, you have to obtain the permission from the curator of the Museum whose office is near room no. one on the fround floor. Besides the miniature paintings the second storey also exhibits the local srts and crafts, but the most attractive are tne miniature paintings of the 18th century, drawn by the freat masters of Bikaner school Beside them work of some other schools is also displayed, those of Jaipur school. Malwa and Bundi sub school. In the 18th century there were some selected subjects for miniature paintings, which were highly liked and appreciated by nobles, lords and ladies of distinguished community. For instance the subjects of various seasons, musical notes and milodies were specially liked, The following is the reference to one of the famous subjects.

Twelve Months

Paintings of this series reflect the mintal agony of a young firl who is in love with a noble man of warrior community, who has gone out to a war and in the paintings of twelve months the mood of this girl, is depicted through the paintings. She is shown pining, as many months have been spent without the caresses and embraces of her lover. Further she is shown in another paintings revealing that cruel time, that is eating up her youth and charming perfection of her anatomy so the lover should come quickly and use her beauty to enjoy and to have mutual satisfaction for which she is pining like a fish without water. She is shown in her agony through the various seasons and natural Phenomenon. Witnessing the moon she says, 'O Moon you know my condition, that when the whole world sleeps during night, I keep awake and you give me company, therefore yuou are my true campanion. Now please do me a favour that since you may see the whole world, while you keep shining in the sky so find it out where my lover is and give him my message of love and good wishes and tell him to come immediately to me".

How to get to Ganga Goldan Jubilee Museum

One of the ways to go to the Museum is to join conducted sight seeing tour organized by the 'Desert Tours'. If not then hire an Auto-rickshaw, for Rs 8-10 (from the center of the city) A pushbike can also be hired for visiting the museum.

Entry ticket for Museum. Rs. 1/-

Photography in Bikaner museum photography is not allowed in simple case. But if photography is neccssary then sbtian permission from the office of the director of archaeology and Musemus, Ram Niwas Gardan, Jaipur (Raj.)

Visiting hours 10.00 A.M. to 4.30 P.M.

Weekly holiday Every Friday.

TOURISM