Credit: Mera Desh Mera Bharat
History
Built-in the year 1999, the Chanderi Archaeological Museum is a beautiful museum that is located in the Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh. The rich heritage and history of the town can be seen in the sculptures, coins, and ornaments in the museum.
Chander Archaeological Museum maintained the museum. It has an extensive collection of sculptures, stone carvings, and artifacts dating back to the Stone Age. A collection of remains of Jain temples, like coins, ornaments, and exquisite sculptures of different Tirthankaras, are preserved in the museum. Sculptures from the Jain temples of Thubon and Boodhi dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries are famous things to watch.
Galleries at Chanderi Archaeological Museum
The Chanderi Museum is divided into five galleries, each showcasing a different aspect of the town’s history and heritage. These galleries include:
The Chanderi Museum is divided into five galleries that show different aspects of the town’s history and heritage. These galleries include
1. History of Chanderi Gallery
Pre-historic paintings, paleolithic and neolithic tools, ornaments,, pottery,, and objects are shown to the visitors, It provides a glimpse into the heritage of the Chanderi and the surrounding region from prehistoric times.
2. Vaishnava Gallery
The different Varaha avatars of Vishnu are shown in the gallery. The beautiful sculptures with intricate carvings are some of the most spectacular at the ASI Museum.
3. Shiva & Shakti Gallery
This gallery is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has beautiful sculptures of deities in different forms. Shiva and Parvati in an intimate moment are some of the most beautiful depictions.
4. Jaina Gallery
It includes different sculptures of Jian Tirthankaras, including Mahavira, Parasavantha, Neminatha,, and many others. It shows the growth of Jainism in the region.
5. Anandam Gallery
The gallery has a vast collection of coins, weapons, and other objects from different dynasties. Mughal paintings, inscriptions, and other artifacts belonging to the Mughal era are something to watch.
In addition to these galleries, the museum has a library that has a collection of more than 3000 books on the history of the province. A central courtyard has around 10 inscriptions in the Sanskrit language but in different scripts.
How to Reach
By car:
To reach Chanderi by car, you can take National Highway 52 and 346, which connect the town with the major cities of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The distance from Delhi to Chanderi is around 638 km, and it takes around 11 hours to reach by car.
By Train:
The nearest railway station to Chanderi is Lalitpur Junction, which is located at a distance of 35 km. It is well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. From the railway station, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Chanderi.
By air:
If you prefer to travel by air, the nearest airport to Chanderi is the Gwalior Airport, which is around 230 km away. It is well-connected to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Chanderi.