Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum: Abode Of 75,000 Jain Manuscripts

The key collection in this museum has Jain art and artefacts, including 75000 illustrated manuscripts, scrolls, sculptures, book covers, and miniature paintings. 

Other art and artefacts are from the era of the Mughals, Mayuraya, Cholas, etc, some date back to the 5th century.

One of the beautiful paintings showcasing a scroll painted at Agra by the Mughal painter, Ustad Salivahana, in 1610 AD which illustrates the Mughal emperor Jahangir’s farm prohibiting the killing of animals in his empire during the Jain festival of Paryushan. This scroll is called Vijnaptipatra.

History Of Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum Ahmedabad

In 1963 the museum was displayed on the first floor of the building on the campus followed in 1993 where the museum had a collection of miniature paintings of Nanalal Mehta.

Collection At Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum Ahmedabad

1. Madhuri Desai Collection

This collection in Ahmedabad Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum has a wide range of varieties of sculptures. These sculptures come from different regions of India.  Some of the sculptures in the collection include artefacts from Nepal and Tibet.

2. Muni Punyavajayji Collection

The collection was owned by Shri Punyavajayaji. The collection included leaf 75,000 Jain manuscripts some of them handwritten. The earliest painted paper manuscript of the Shantinath Charitra dated V.S. 1453 (i.e.1396 A.D.), is also recognized as a global treasure by UNSECO. The collection includes a rare Cosmological diagram, Jaina-Sidhdha Chakra Yantra, and other such distinctive artefacts. 

3. Priyakant Munshaw Collection

This collection represents the coinage of India. Different types of coins are there in this collection. The earliest coin the collection has is called Bantbar which dates back to 600 B.C. The collection also has coins including Adil Shah’s Larin which dates back to 1668 A.D. Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi coin and Jahangir’s Zodiac series in silver and other currency.

4. Shri Arvindbhai Collection

Among other noteworthy collections, one of the best is the Shri Arvindbhai Collection. From Chola style Nataraja which dates back to the 11th century to an exuberant Nepali/ Tibetan bronze Mandala which dates back to the 18th century are displayed on the ground floor.

5. Kasturbhai Lalbhai Collection

It is a collection of many miniature paintings including scenes from Ramayan, court scenes, portraits, etc. The collection dates back to the 17th to the 19th century. 

6. Gopi-Anand Collection

This collection has mainly bedwork collection which is mainly practiced in Kutch and Saurashtra. The art was mainly used for marriage ceremonies and household decoration and now is a part of the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum. This is one of the major heritage collections of the museum.

7. Leelavati Lalbhai Woodwork Collection

This collection has a wide range of woodwork collections including relief panels of Tirthankaras, 14 Dream, Ashtamangala, and other symbolic forms, carved pillars, and decorative panels.

8. Pahari School Ramayana Drawings

This collection has been latest included in the Ahmedabad Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum. It was open to the general public in 2016. The collection has almost 62 folios depicting various episodes of Ramayan.

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Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum Architecture

Initially, the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum had two galleries including Muni Puniyavijayji Gallery and Smt. Madhuri Desai Gallery. Later in 2004, an additional gallery called the Priyakant Munshaw Gallery was set up.

The museum has its laboratory which has the facility of cleaning, repairing, and restoring artefacts to preserve them for a longer period.

Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum Entry Fee

Workshops At Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum

1. Workshop On Mata Ni Pachedi
2. C For Conservation Learn To Care And Preserve Paper
3. Workshop On Hand Embroidery
4. Learning About The Coins
5. Elements Of Temple Architecture
6. Archiving And Paper Conservation
7. Workshop On Clay Coli Pots

Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum Timings

Hotels Near Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum

1. Hotel Royal Grand
2. Hotel Surya Villas By Srurban Hotels Pvt Ltd
3. The President A Boutique Hotel
4. Hotel Dev Corporate
5. Regenta Central Antarim 
6. Hotel Surya Villas
7. Hotel Swastik Inn

Restaurants Near Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum

1. Swati Snacks
2. Masi Nu Jamvanu
3. Shri Swaminarayan Dining Hall
4. Panchavati
5. Little French House
6. Dakshinayan
7. Wok On Fire
8. Jungle Bhookh Restaurant
9. Spicevilla Reastaurant
10. Yanki Sizzlerr

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Places To Visit Near Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum

1. Vastrapur Lake

2. Amdavadi Ni Gufa

3. Kalyan Pushti Haveli

4. Adventure Park

5. Riverfront Flower Park

How To Reach Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum Ahmedabad

By Road

Gujarat has one of the most well-connected road networks in India. You can travel to Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum by Road get a bus or a cab. 

By Railway

The nearest Railway station to Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum is Kalupur Railway Station. It is just 6.7 km from the museum. You can take a cab or a bus to reach the museum. 

By Air

The nearest airport to reach the museum is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The airport is at a distance of 13 km from the museum.