Ganga Government Museum

The Ganga Government Museum in Bikaner was inaugurated on November 5, 1937, by Lord Linlithgow to commemorate Maharaja Ganga Singh's Golden Jubilee. The museum houses an extensive collection of archaeological artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization site of Kalibangan, terracotta artwork, Rajasthani miniature paintings, hunting weapons, royal portraits, and historical textiles. It showcases galleries dedicated to local arts, crafts, ancient coins, armory, and sculptures.

Visitors can explore multiple galleries displaying stone sculptures, inscriptions, miniature paintings from schools of Bundi, Mewar, Jaipur, Bikaner and Jodhpur, terracotta artifacts, metallic objects, arms, coins, and local handicrafts. The museum features highlights such as gilded gold leaf paintings on camel hides, the Silk Robe of Shehzaada Salim, replicas of Gajner Palace, and excavated items from Dr. Tessitori's archaeological work. The building is primarily on the ground floor with organized displays following historical importance.

Established in 1937 during Maharaja Ganga Singh's Golden Jubilee celebrations and inaugurated by Governor-General Lord Linlithgow on November 5, 1937. The museum was initially housed near Lalgarh Palace and later transferred to its present location in Civil Lines in 1954. It contains archaeological wealth excavated by Italian scholar Dr. Luigi Pio Tessitori, who was appointed by Maharaja Ganga Singh in 1915 to conduct historical surveys of the region. The museum was taken over by the Government of Rajasthan under the Department of Archaeology in 1950.

The museum serves as a repository of Bikaner's rich cultural heritage, showcasing traditional Rajasthani arts including miniature paintings, usta craft (gold leaf paintings on camel hides), textiles, carpets, and local handicrafts. It preserves artifacts representing the princely state's history and the broader cultural traditions of Rajasthan.