Museum of Folk and Tribal Arts

Visit and explore the undiscovered jewel in the form of a museum which houses a gamut of artistic objects of the rural and tribal areas that are not in circulation anymore. The Museum of Folk and Tribal Arts, located in Gurugram, Haryana, welcomes visitors who wish to admire the exquisite and neglected folk and tribal art.

About the Museum

Home to a vibrant assortment of art objects of the folk and tribal flavor, the Museum of Folk and Tribal Arts is an enchanting place with objects of artistic values that are no longer seen and are almost on the verge of extinction. Established in 1984 and located in Gurugram, Haryana, the Museum of Folk and Tribal Arts familiarizes the visitors with the traditional arts and ethnography of Indian rural and tribal regions that are now losing their grip in today's ever-changing scenario and thereby with the taste of people. It is a labor of love started by Mr. KC Aryan, noted art historian, painter, sculptor, and writer of 23 scholarly books.

The objects of significant artistic value that are showcased in the museum galleries comprise pataka paintings, card puppets, a large set of clay pottery and toys shaped in the manner of the Indus Valley culture, rare textiles, wooden masks, folk paintings mainly from Punjab, masterpieces of bronze icons, terracotta, wood, and stone images. These articles of extreme value are not only collected from Punjab, Himachal, and Haryana but also several other regions of the diverse nation.

Some of the highlights of the museum are the 200 Shiva heads from Karnataka, over 200 Mukhlingas (phallic covers) of the Hanuman bronze icons, and stunning tribal jewelry worn by the women of Himachal Pradesh. Some of the other exhibits in this collection includes traditional playing cards known as Gaujita, lacquered ware from Hoshiyarpur in Punjab, traditional shoes made from distinct materials from different provinces, Bhang (hemp) filters made of iron, richly carved doorways, and print windows from Rajasthan, ritual objects from diverse provinces, silver ornaments, silver hookahs, mouthpieces, elbow rests, and much more.

A museum that offers you a glimpse into the beautiful and extensive cultural history of tribal and folk art, this is an ideal place for all the history paramours, art aficionados, or anyone who admires the historic and artistic vestiges.