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Bhuri Singh Museum was opened on 14th September 1908 and is
named after Raja Bhuri Singh who ruled Chamba from 1904 to 1919. This
museum is very near to Chamba's
Chaugan.
Bhuri
Singh donated his family collection of paintings to the museum. The idea
to open a public museum came from J. Ph. Vogel, an eminent Indologist, who
was serving Archeological Survey of India. Through an intensive
exploration he discovered, read and analyzed old inscriptions dispersed
far and wide in the territory of Chamba
State.
These inscriptions mostly in Sarda script shed important light on the
mediaeval history of Chamba.
The Prasastis of Sarahan, Devi-ri-kothi and Mul Kihar are now preserved in
the museum. Paintings of 'Bhagwat Purana' and 'Ramayana' in peculiar style
are inspired by Basohli idiom of painting, whereas Krishna, Sudama,
Rukmini 'Vivah' and 'Usha-Anirudh' and portraits in prime Guler-Kangra
style were executed by the artists who were patronized by the
Chamba rulers.
The old museum building, which merged well with the landscape of
Chamba, was pulled down and the
present concrete monolith was inaugurated in 1975.
ANTIQUITIES ON DISPLAY
The embroidered Chamba-Rumals
are related in style since their drawings were made by pahari painters
though the embroidery was done by the household ladies.
Besides these major items of collections, there are coins, hill jewellery
and costumes- both traditional and royal, arms and armour, musical
instruments and various decorative objects.
Carved doors from the old palaces, frescoes as well as emgire used by
Chamba's erstwhile rulers are also on display.
TIMING: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
CLOSED: Monday and other gazetted holidays.
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