State Museum Odisha

In 1932, Prof. N.C. Banerjee and Prof. Ghanshyam Dash, two notable historians of Ravenshaw College in Cuttack, started this Odishan museum. They collected a great assortment of archaeological treasure from various places and kept them in a small museum which was then located in the college premises. Later in 1938, it was transformed into state’s primary museum by the government. However, in 1947-48, when the state capital of Odisha shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar, the museum got shifted as well, and thus, the present structure of the museum is located in the capital city of Bhubaneshwar. With time, the museum flourished, and finally, on 29 December 1957, the foundation stone of the present structure of the museum was laid. In 1960, the construction work of the museum got completed and was also shifted to a new building. In the same year, the museum renamed as Odisha State Museum.

On the display, the museum boasts an exquisite collection of sculptures, numismatics, antiquities, copper plates, and specimens. All the arts and artefacts here at the state museum offers an insight into rich India as well as Odisha heritage. Apart from this, the main highlight of this beautiful museum is the stone sculptures that are categorized into three groups defining their style. These styles include Gandhara Art, Odishan Art, and North Indian Art. Other galleries include paintings, armoury, epigraphy, bronze, anthropology, and natural history that makes one of the most sought-after tourist attractions in Odisha for historical buffs.

Visiting Timing:

10:00 Am to 4:30 pm