One of the famous by products of the partition of India is the elaborate Government Museum and Art Gallery in the city of Chandigarh. The place is one of the top notch facilities of the country and has a wealthy collection of several sculptures of Gandharan style along with Rajasthani as well as Pahari miniature paintings. In united India (before 1947), the compilation of paintings, artistic objects, sculptures etc found a house in the museum in the then Capital City of Punjab, Lahore.

Amongst the elite panel of museums and galleries across the country, the Government Museum and Art Gallery in the heart of Chandigarh stands at a high point. This mark of this museum is not only because of its huge and elaborate collection but also because of several others. Standing in the centre of Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh, the Museum here boasts of a huge and vast campus which also houses the huge institute called the Government College for Arts. One of the grandest features about the place and its architecture is that it was designed by French architect Le Corbusier. On 6th May 1968, with the support and efforts of Late Dr. M.S. Randhawa, this treasure of art was inaugurated. Originating as a humble start, several spaces were added later responding to the growing needs of the campus. The property where the gallery is located is bounded by discerning plants that add to its grandeur.

The grand museum has a total of four parts. The part that houses the gallery of arts undoubtedly assumes the greatest importance. There is another edifice that is the house of the Natural History Museum, National Gallery of Portraits and Chandigarh Architecture Museum. The Chandigarh Architectural Museum is one of a kind and houses the chronological evolution of the city of Chandigarh from its inception to its present day status.

Architecture of Museum

In an attempt to further explore his already established philosophy that such places were bound to grow with time, the architect of Chandigarh designed this museum with the same idea. Planned with meticulous symmetry, there is a flowing rhythm which is largely due to the colors of the structure. With spaces elegantly merging into each other, the building offers a never ending view.

The fundamental idea of the museum’s architecture relies on a system of beams and columns. The central edifice is separated vertically by three different levels. The first level (Level 1) houses the foyer, reception hall, reserve collection storage, temporary exhibition hall, auditorium and a conservation laboratory. Level 2 houses the chief gallery. On the third level are the research rooms, library, curators’ offices and committee room.  A ramp designed in the centre of the building ensures communications in all the floors. Besides, recently a lift has also been added that helps the lifting up of artifacts and important wealth or art, history etc to their respective places with utmost ease and minimal damage. There are canals on either side of the buildings that work profusely to ensure that there is no water logging during the rainy seasons and that the rain water is properly harvested into the pools designed for them

The Natural History Museum

The Museum of Evolution of Life, following a huge decision in the year 2001 made way for Natural History Museum which is an upgraded status of its former place. Majorly there are five sections in this block:

• Cyclorama of Evolution of Life
• Nature in Art section
• Manuscript section
• Evolution of Man section
• Dinosaurs of India section

Timings

 It opens for public daily between 10:00 a. m. and 4:30 p.m. except on Mondays, National and Public holidays.

Tickets

Entry Fee

A nominal fee of rupees 10 allows you entry into the museum which is not charged by children under 12 years of age and senior citizens

Camera Fee

Rs. 5/- (Rupees five only)

Guided Tour

Daily at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

After an appointment is taken, the museum also arranges specially guided tour for children.

Photo Gallery