Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal

                     Fast view
Address                                     :-  Shymala Hills, Bhopal
Opened                              :-  1977
Distance from Bhopal Station     :-  8 KM
Famous for                                :-  cultural museum, explore tribal life etc.
Total Average visitor  in A day   :-  350
Timing                                       :-  10 AM to 6 PM (Monday Off)
Entry Fee                                   :-  10/- per person

Indira  Gandhi  Rashtriya  Manav  Sangrahalaya  is  an  anthropology  museum  in  Bhopal  to present  an  integrated  story  of  the  Evolution  of  man  and  culture  with  special reference. The museum is spread over 200 acres of undulating land on the Shyamla Hills on the Upper Lake front. 

Main Gate

veethi shankul entry Gate

With their scenic beauty the hills of shyamala, dharampuri and prempura near by the lake of Bhopal were important for natural splendor  and geomorphic formations. It is also a fact that human beings have inhabited these beautiful surroundings form prehistoric times. Evidence  of their habitations are available in stone implements of palaeolithic and Mesolithic period as found in the rock terrain in these hillocks.

This museum has rock shelters equivalent in important  to those of the world heritage site of bhimbetika  and has rock painting dating from Mesolithic, Neolithic age, copper age to the historical periods.

design of ancient hut.

Thus on the one hand the them of presentation of the entire saga of  humankind is naturally personified by the presence of these rock shelters. On the other hand the open air exhibitions and indoor galleries expand in the 200 acres of museum premises and bring out the varied cultural heritage of this country in its tangible and intangible from making use of indigenous as well as the most it one of the unique among all the museums of the world.

Rock art heritage : The IGRMS campus is part of a darger prehistoric landscape, littered with stray surface finds of material culture of early man. It has about 36 painted rock shelters, which are approximately datable to Mesolithic period and later period. These have been developed as another open air exhibition titled rock art heritage. 

Coastal village : The life style and culture of Indian coastal communities are depicted around the

Traditional dwellings in the coastal village exhibition.

Desert village : the desert village exhibition comprising dwelling types from the desert region of western india was opened in 1995.

It is utensils for store water 

Himalayan village : A Himalayan village was developed with typical house types from Himalyan regions.

Mythology trail : a cosmology and narrative trail (mythology) has been built, with installations by artists drawn various folk and tribal groups. Alongside, a trail of medicinal plants common to tribal communities has also been developed. Sacred groves precincts of selected communities has been developed in association with different communities.

Traditional technology : this exhibition has a variety of functional exhibit that depict the strong technological fasis available in folk cultures for a balanced exploitation of resources with an accurate sence of harmony with the nature.

design of ancient hut.

Indoor Museum : with  some 10 galleries having permanent display and spaces for special exhibitions too, this component presents a wide range of objects that depict the rich cultural variety available among several hundred  of folk cultures and tribal communities.

Ancient  Ornaments for women's

Other museum specialities : the museum provides a systematically executed educational programme, popula lecture series, seminars and conferences, museum  outreach programme and activities conducted in different states as well as an opportunity to come face to face with  knowledge held by traditional societies.

It's ancient girl with traditional weird  

            Programs

                     Balrang - Festival of children

A girl is getting ready for her turn

Balrang is Famous Festival of Manav Sangrahalaya it's held every year   The aim of this festival is not just to enhance the imaginative, artistic, creative instincts of children but to instill in their young heart a scene  of the ancient and rich cultural heritage of our country. Children are the future citizen of the country and hence need to be introduced to our ancient traditions which carry  within  them emotion of sociability, unity, universal brotherhood as well as nationalism and a love of humanity so that they know the fragrance of the soil of this country and relate to it instinctively.

Presentation of folk songs, folk dance  and folk arts are the main centre of attractions of the program Balrang.

 Through their performances, school children bring alive the essence of India. our folk songs are ingrained with values such as love, compassion, mutual cooperation and also a strong  sense of nationalism which become evident from these presentations.

A girls group of Folk dancers

Through the exhibitions, Laghu Bharat- mini India, one gets a glimpse of the cultures of different regions of the country – their habitat, culinary habits, folk songs and dances.   

A girl is performing 'Kathak' 

People  enjoy and feel exhilarated watching these familiar folk songs and dances. The children coming from various regions visit the pandals representing their state they have a feeling of home coming as a the language spoken, the food served and the houses depicted are their  very own. Children from far away regions thus get a sense of oneness  which goes a long way in uniting the country.

Balrang bring together boys and girls from different states introducing them to each other’s language, cultural practices, dance and music etc. it also generates in their mind a curiosity to know the others and appreciate the immense variety which gets reflected through this colorful event.

The exuberance reflected in the efforts of students and their teachers in putting up of the exhibition – Laghu  Bharat makes us believe that the new generation is indeed moving on the right path.