Albert Hall Museum

Museum in Jaipur

could-see attraction

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm, night entry 7:00pm-10:00pm

Address: Museum Rd, Ram Niwas Garden, Kailash Puri, Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Ticket price: Indian/foreigner ₹40/300, audio guide Hindi/English ₹118/177

Visit duration: People typically spend up to 1 hour here

About Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur

The royal state of Rajasthan boasts of several historic monuments and Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur is one of them. It is the oldest museum in the state and is an attraction for tourists who have a passion for history.

History of Albert Hall

Albert Hall Museum is the state museum of Rajasthan. It is also called the Royal Albert Museum.

The museum has been named after King Albert Edward as during his visit to Jaipur the foundation stone of the building was laid on 6 February 1876. It was opened as a public museum in the year 1887, 10 years after it had been built.

The design of the hall was given by architect Samuel Swinton Jacob and Mir Tujumool Hoosein assisted him in the completion of the building. The architecture represents the Indo-Saracenic style in its true form. This revival form of architecture had been used by British architects in the 19th century mostly for public buildings.

Albert Hall Museum is built in the Ram Niwas Garen after Dr. Thomas Holbein Hendley suggested that the space should be utilised to showcase local artisan’s expert craftsmanship.

Today, the museum serves to acquaint the youth and foreigners with traditional local artistry. The display of such skilful craftsmanship also helps local craftsmen to leverage their art by displaying them on a platform like this.

Gallery and collections at Albert Hall Museum

There are a total of 16 galleries in this museum that house different precious art objects from across the globe. The most notable piece of history housed in the Albert Hall Museum is a 2300-year-old Egyptian mummy that was first brought to India in 1883.

Another piece of history that attracts crowds is the famous Persian Golden Carpet which depicts a scene of a Persian garden where streams are running. Mirza Raja Jai Singh I is known to have bought this carpet at an extravagant price from Shah Abbas of Persia.

Other important artefacts include the rare coins belonging to the Gupta period, the Sultanate period and also the Mughal period. These coins are valuable sources of information for students who have a keen interest in history.

In a bid to show the world how uniquely beautiful and diverse the dresses and pieces of jewellery of Rajasthani people are, the ground floor galleries of the Albert Hall were completely remodelled and renovated in 1959.

The galleries include an array of lifestyle articles on display. From the affluent Rajputs and merchants to the Rajasthani tribes like Bhils, Meenas, Gadoliya Lohars and many more- the museum depicts the dresses and jewellery of all classes of people.

One of the galleries is completely dedicated to the popular Henna body art which is popularly known as 'Mehndi Mandana' in Rajasthan. The intricate designs of Henna represent traditional Rajasthani designs and motifs. These are popular all over the world today.

The central gallery of the museum is dedicated to the dance and music forms of the state. The classical instruments, as well as folk instruments, are on display, kept in their functional positions to understand how they are played. The depiction of the various folk dances of Rajasthan like Ghoomar, Kalbeliya and others reflect how lively and colourful they are.

Along with folk dance, there are images of Kathak, a very popular classical form of dance that makes Jaipur Gharana famous.

Entry fee and timings

Albert Hall Museum is open on all days of the week. It is also open on public holidays.

The timings are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

The Albert Hall Museum Jaipur general entry ticket is ₹40 per person for Indians and ₹20 for Indian students. For overseas visitors, the price of each ticket is ₹300 and for overseas students, it is ₹150.

If you wish to visit other places of interest along with Albert Hall, you can get the composite entry ticket which is valid for two days. It allows you to visit the following places: Jantar Mantar (Observatory), Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh Fort, Amber Fort, Albert Hall, Sisodia Rani Garden and Vidhyaghar Garden.

The composite ticket is priced at ₹300 per person for Indians and ₹40 for Indian students. For overseas visitors, the price of each ticket is ₹1000 and for overseas students, it is ₹200.

Facts and tips about Albert Hall Museum

The building looks beautiful in the daytime. However, as soon as the sun sets, the appearance of the Albert Hall Museum transforms into a breathtaking spectacle. The entire building lights up with bright yellow lights creating an amazing effect. If you wish to visit the museum at night, then the ticket would cost you ₹100. This is the same for all visitors.

Other attractions near Albert Hall Museum

• Hawa Mahal - 2.4 km
• City Palace - 2.5 km
• Jantar Mantar - 2.6 km
• Amber Palace (Amer Fort) - 9.9 km
• Nahargarh Fort - 16 km

FAQs about Albert Hall Museum

1. Who designed the Albert Hall Museum and when was it built?

Albert Hall Museum was built in 1887. It was designed by architect Samuel Swinton Jacob, assisted by Mir Tujumool Hoosein.

2. Can you click photographs inside the museum?

Professional camera photography is not allowed in the Albert Hall Museum. You can, however, click photos using your smartphone.

3. Is the Albert Museum Hall open on weekends?

Yes, Albert Hall Museum is open on weekends and also on public holidays.

4. Can you eat inside the museum?

No, you are not allowed to carry and consume food and drinks inside the museum. You can eat at various nearby restaurants.

5. Is there a parking facility at the Albert Hall Museum?

Yes, there is sufficient parking space for four-wheelers and two-wheelers within the premises. A nominal parking fee needs to be paid.