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Odisha is a treasure trove of various historical monuments which date back to the Kharavela era. Most of these monuments have been destroyed over time. There are many museums in Odisha which offer us a chance to revisit and rediscover this vibrant past. This should be an integral part of any tour of Odisha. Furthermore, Odisha is home to many other museums that not only offer a trip to a magnificent past but also create a condition for visitors to have a better knowledge of the region and its complex history.
9 Museums In Odisha
You can visit these famous museums in Odisha, which describe its cultural and historical heritage. Let us discuss the major interesting facts about these museums.
1. Regional Museum Of Natural History
Photo: Suyash Dwivedi / Wikimedia Commons
The Regional Museum of Natural History, located in Bhubaneswar, was inaugurated in 2004. The museum is located near Acharya Vihar Square. This museum mainly exhibits the plants, animals, and geology of the eastern region of India. The galleries in this museum show the interrelationship between plants and animals. It creates awareness about the environment among students by conducting extracurricular activities. A large skeleton of the Baleen whale installed here makes it one of the best museums in Odisha for exploration. .
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (closed on Monday)
Entry Fee: NA
2. Archaeological Museum At Konark
Photo: Pratishkhedekar / Wikimedia Commons
The Konark Museum, established in 1968, is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. Located near the Konark Temple, this museum contains a lot of sculptures collected from the Konark Temple clearance work. The museum has four galleries with 260 different architectural pieces. It is a treasure house for historical people, and it is also available to the public. The first gallery contains 62 antiquities. The second gallery has 108 antiquities. The third gallery contains 45 sculpture objects. The fourth gallery holds about 45 artefacts. Its unique collection makes it one of the most famous museums in Odisha.
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: ₹10
3. Archaeological Museum At Ratnagiri
Photo: Prithwiraj Dhnag / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Located in the Jajpur district of Odisha, this museum has four galleries, including art objects and antiques. These galleries mainly feature Buddhism-related artefacts from the 5th to 13th centuries. This museum has one special bronze artefact and sculpture, which are special treasures. It belongs to Tantric Buddhist Vajrayana. Different antiquities can be seen here, such as bronze, stone, ivory, etc. Visitors can find other things like terracotta and copper plates displayed in the gallery. The primary attraction to visitors in this museum is the bronze, which is mainly shown in the fourth gallery.
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: ₹5
4. Odisha State Maritime Museum
Photo: Psomu800 / Wikimedia Commons
One of the most important locations to visit in Cuttack, this maritime museum was established on the 1st of April 2013 by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mr. Naveen Patnaik. Situated near the Barrage of Mahanadi, the museum mainly exhibits the rich maritime history of Odisha. We can learn maritime traditions and practices in this place. Maritime history, boat, ship making, and monuments on the Odisha coast are all displayed in the new modern galleries. It has an aquarium with a lot of aquatic animals found in Odisha. Here, you can learn about the complete process of boat making.
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: NA
5. Odisha Modern Art Gallery
Photo: Adrien Olichon / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
It is the only museum in Odisha that displays contemporary works permanently. Founded by Mrs. Karen Kent and inaugurated by the Director of Tourism, it was opened on 2nd September 2001. The museum has received “The Certificate of Registration Trust Act”. It not only encourages the consciousness among artists and artisans, but also encourages art lovers, visitors, and buyers. There are 800 pieces of artefacts. The special and permanent exhibitions are conducted for 200 local artists to improve sales.
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: ₹10
6. Odisha State Museum
Photo: Steve Browne & John Verkleir / Wikimedia Commons
It is one of the biggest and most famous museums in Odisha state. Located in BJB Nagar in Bhubaneswar, it was established by the two professors in 1932. Initially, it was on the Ravenshaw College campus. It has 27 different sections and 37,000 palm-leaf manuscripts on Ayurveda. With the help of the public and government, it exhibits several collections. There are a lot of good collections such as specimens of fine arts, copper plates, terracotta artefacts, and sculptures. Later on, stone sculptures were also exhibited in the museum. To categorise, these buildings have been built and displayed in the galleries.
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM (closed on Monday)
Entry Fee: ₹10 for adults, ₹20 for children, ₹100 for foreigners
7. Odisha State Tribal Museum
Photo: Balaji / Wikimedia Commons
Established in 1953, this tribal museum shows the culture and lifestyle of Odisha tribal communities. It is considered to be the best museum in Odisha and even India. Located in Bhubaneswar, it has been defined as the “Museum of Man.” Initially, it had one hall, where all the artefacts were displayed. After that, on 5th March 2001, the museum building was constructed, and five different kinds of galleries were displayed. It has also initiated several festivals and demonstration programs.
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: NA
8. Netaji Birth Place Museum
Photo: Subhashish Panigrahi / Wikimedia Commons
Located in the Cuttack district of Odisha, this museum displays the life of Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji). He lived his childhood in his ancestral home, which has now been converted into a museum. The house was reconstructed and officially announced as a museum in 2007. The rooms are changed into galleries, all his photos are exhibited here. His childhood, freedom struggle, achievements and everything is on display. There is a library that has 500 books. His autobiography was written and published in various languages here, making it one among the top museums in Odisha.
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: ₹10 for adults, ₹5 for children
9. Kala Bhoomi Odisha Crafts Museum
Photo: Kritzolina / WIkimedia Commons
Established on 22nd March 2018, the Kala Bhoomi Museum was inaugurated by the Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department and the Government of Odisha. It mainly exhibits the handicrafts and handloom crafts traditions of Odisha. The museum has 12.68 acres of land around it and has an awesome ambiance. It has nine galleries. It also has other facilities like a children’s play area, a workshop for handicrafts and handlooms. The main vision of this museum is to promote the existing crafts, and the heritage of Odisha.
Timings: 24*7
Entry Fee: ₹50 for adults, ₹20 for students
These museums in Odisha serve as a gateway to learn about the historical artefacts, culture, and heritage of the country and realise how the ancient people have lived their lives and used their skills like making art and crafts, sculptures, handloom, textiles & handicrafts. Each museum is a living part of the cultural space of Odisha. So, if you are a culture vulture looking for a great experience, book your travel to these tourist places with TripXL for a better experience.
Cover Photo: Subhashish Panigrahi / Wikimedia Commons
