Location of Akbar’s Fort and Government Museum, History of Akbar’s Fort and Government Museum, Architecture of Akbar’s Fort and Government Museum, Visiting hours in Akbar’s Fort and Government Museum.
Location of Akbar’s Fort and Government Museum:
This elegant Fortress built in red sandstone is located near the Ajmer Junction Railway Station in Ajmer City, District Ajmer, Rajasthan.
History of Akbar’s Fort and Government Museum:
It was built in 1570 A.D. by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and was used by him as a residence during his visits to Ajmer. It was also used by him as a bastion for his advancing empire in India. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir used to come to the window of this Fortress every morning to show himself to the common man and also to hear their complaints and impart justice. The Mughal Emperor Jahangir had met Sir Thomas Roe, the Ambassador of King James I of England on 10th January 1615 A.D. and had granted the Charter of Free trading to the East India Company which laid the foundation of the British Raj in India.
Finally this Fortress was occupied by the British in 1818 A.D. and during the First war of India’s Independence in the year 1857 A.D., it was used by them as a magazine to store arms and ammunition. They named it ‘Rajputana Arsenal’.
Architecture of Akbar’s Fort and Government Museum:
It is small in size as compared to the other Forts built by the Emperor Akbar in India, but still it is considered as one of the strongest Forts located in the Southeastern part of Rajasthan. The magnificent main gate is located towards the West facing the City. This impregnable structure is square-shaped, having lofty octagonal bastions at each corner and is surrounded by two thick walls that run parallel to each other. These walls enclose a double-storeyed hall at the centre which is known as audience chamber. It is encircled by a row of columns held together at the top by the arches and is surrounded by a number of rooms.
Government Museum – A part of the palace was converted into a Museum in October, 1908 A.D. under the initiative of Lord Curzon and Sir John Marshall, the then Director General of Archaeology in India. Pandit Gaurishankar Heerachand Ojha was its 1st Superintendent. It has been divided into many Sections.
The Sculptures Section of the Museum has some of the ancient, rare and unique pieces dating back to the Gupta period and upto 19th Century A.D. These have been recovered from Pushkar, Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra, Baghera, Pisangan, Harshnath (in Sikar District), Bharatpur, Sirohi, Arthuna and Osian. The collection includes master pieces like Lingodbhav Maheshwar, Charturmukh Shivlinga’s, marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh, Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, black marble statue of Goddess Kali, God Surya, Nakshatras, Lord Vahah, Laxmi Narain, God Kuber and God Indra etc. The Jain figures which are displayed in a separate gallery include idols of Lord Rishabhdev, Lord Parsavnath, Lord Kunthunath, Lord Mahaveer, Lord Shantinath, Yaksha Gaumukh and Saraswati. The majority of the sculptures belong to the period between 10th to 12th Centuries A.D. when Ajmer was ruled by the Chauhan dynasty rulers.
The Inscriptions Section has items collected from different parts of Rajasthan. The most striking inscriptions are –
- Rahomi inscription of Berli (Ajmer) dating back to 2nd century B.C. It is one of the earliest inscritpions discovered in Rajasthan.
- Baghri inscription of 424 A.D.
- Jodhpur inscription of Bauka 837 A.D. (it describes that the Pratihars of Mandore were the descendants of the Brahamin Harishchandra and records the names and dates of his descendants up to Bauka).
- Pushkar inscription containing the name of King Vakapatiraj of 10th century A.D.
- Slab inscribed with Harkeli Natak of 1153 A.D. (Composed by Chauhan King Vigrahraj IV).
- Slab containing Lalit Vigrahraj Natak 1153 A.D. (composed by court poet Somdeo during the period of Chauhan ruler Vigraraj IV)
- Inscription of the time of Chamundraj 1080 A.D.
- Inscription of the time of Great Prithviraj III 1177 A.D. (records the construction of a Vapi) and a number of important copper plates also add to the value of his collection.
The Arms and Armour Section has a collection of weapons which were used during medieval period and include different kinds of swords, many kinds of guns like Toderdar, Patharida, Topida, Kartusi, Eknali, Donali and Ramchangi, Helmets which were worn during wars and a historic cannon. The Pre-Historic Section displays items dating back to 3000 year’s early to Christian era and were recovered from Mohanjodaro in the Indus valley. The most notable items displayed here are – flint blade or knives, images of Mother Goddess, Venus, wheel of toy cart, pieces of conch, small portion of carbonized wheat, copper arrow head, bangles of clay, needle, bricks of various types, stone for sharping tools, human and animal figures, copper bangles, blade of an axe etc.
The Arts and Crafts Section displays carvings on wood and ivory and elegant miniature paintings. The exhibits in this Section include antimony boxes having ivory and applique work, vases and goblets, incised and embossed work on brass, ivory comb, necklace, wooden dharau, pen holder, marble plates, stone grinder and some specimens of blue pottery. Some items have been preserved as Reserve Collection and prior permission of the Director, Archaeology and Museums, Jaipur is required to have a look at them. The museum also has a Reference Library having a rich collection of books on history, art and archaeology and is open to research scholars only.
The entire collection of the Museum includes 652 Stone Sculptures, 84 inscriptions, 3986 Coins, 18 Metallic Objects, 149 Miniature Paintings, 75 Arms and Armour, 363 Terracottas and 128 Objects of local Art and Craft and Pre-historic Objects.
Visiting Hours in Akbar’s Fort and Government Museum:
It remains open on all days except public holidays from 10.00 A.M. to 4.30 P.M.
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