Government Museum, Mathura

The Government Museum, Mathura, located in Dampier Park, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, is one of India's leading archaeological museums. Established in 1874 by Sir F. S. Growse, it is renowned for its extensive collection of Mathura art from the Kushan and Gupta periods. The museum houses stone sculptures, terracottas, bronzes, coins, and paintings associated with Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, documenting the region's ancient artistic heritage.

Visitors can expect a single-storey octagonal museum building set within Dampier Park with multiple galleries displaying ancient stone sculptures, including Yaksha and Yakshi figures, Buddha and Jain Tirthankara images, terracotta figurines, bronze objects, ancient coins, and miniature paintings. Galleries are organized chronologically and thematically, with labelled exhibits, display cases and information panels. The surroundings are park-like and the interior is arranged for self-guided viewing and educational tours.

Founded in 1874 by Sir F. S. Growse, then Collector of Mathura, initially as the Curzon Museum of Archaeology. It was established to preserve and display archaeological finds from Mathura, a major centre of art under the Kushan Empire (1st-3rd century CE) and Gupta period. The museum's collection documents the evolution of Indian sculpture and the Mathura School of Art.

The museum is a principal repository of Mathura art and showcases the artistic traditions of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. Its sculptures illustrate the development of Buddha imagery and regional iconography, reflecting Mathura's role as a cultural and religious centre in ancient India.