About Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing
The Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing is a private museum housed in a restored 16th-century haveli near Amer Fort in Rajasthan. Opened in 2005, it preserves and showcases the traditional craft of hand-block printing through textile collections, tools, and live demonstrations. The building received a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Conservation Award in 2000 for its sustainable restoration.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore three floors displaying historical and contemporary block-printed textiles, wooden blocks, carving tools, and photographic documentation of the craft. Live demonstrations of block carving and printing are conducted throughout the day. The museum features explanatory panels detailing the history, techniques, and regional variations of hand-block printing across India.
Key highlights
- 01
Restored 16th-century haveli with UNESCO award-winning conservation
- 02
Live demonstrations of block carving and hand printing
- 03
Collection of traditional and contemporary block-printed textiles
- 04
Display of wooden and iron printing blocks and tools
- 05
Documentation of Ajrakh dyeing technique and regional traditions
- 06
Anokhi Archives featuring clothing from the 1970s onwards
History of Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing
The museum is housed in Chanwar Palkiwalon ki Haveli, a 16th-century Rajput mansion that was part of the fortified city of Amber. The haveli lay empty for over 400 years before being purchased by John Singh in the late 1970s and renovated from 1989 onwards. The restoration earned a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Conservation Award in 2000.
Culture & Context
The museum preserves the ancient Indian craft of hand-block printing, providing education about this traditional technique and supporting artisan communities. It documents regional textile traditions including Balota village outfits and Gujarat's Ajrakh dyeing process, while showcasing cross-cultural design exchanges.
Route
| By air |
|---|