About Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum
The Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum is a state-run cultural museum located on Shyamla Hills in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Inaugurated in 2013, it is dedicated to the tribal heritage of Madhya Pradesh and showcases the art, customs, housing, rituals and lifestyle of the state's major tribes including Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Bharia, Sahariya and Kol. Designed with immersive galleries, recreated dwellings and interactive displays, it serves as a centre for preservation and interpretation of tribal culture.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a modern, air-conditioned museum complex with six themed galleries and an open-air display of tribal houses. Galleries feature life-size dioramas, traditional paintings, crafts, ornaments, musical instruments and ritual objects representing the seven major tribes of Madhya Pradesh. Recreated huts, courtyards and installations illustrate daily life, festivals and spiritual practices. The campus includes an auditorium, amphitheatre, craft shop and cafeteria set on the landscaped Shyamla Hills near Upper Lake.
Key highlights
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Six themed galleries dedicated to tribal lifestyle, art, beliefs and customs
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Life-size recreations of traditional houses of Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Bharia, Sahariya and Kol tribes
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Extensive collection of tribal paintings, crafts, jewellery and artefacts
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Immersive dioramas depicting rituals, festivals and daily activities
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Open-air exhibition area and amphitheatre for cultural programs
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Architecturally distinctive building designed to reflect tribal aesthetics
History of Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum
Inaugurated on 6 June 2013 by President of India Pranab Mukherjee, the museum was established by the Government of Madhya Pradesh through the Department of Culture to preserve, document and promote the heritage of the state's Scheduled Tribes. It was designed by architect Revathi Kamath to create an immersive ethnographic space.
Culture & Context
The museum showcases the living culture of Madhya Pradesh's seven major tribes - Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Bharia, Sahariya and Kol - through their art forms such as Gond painting, Bhil painting, crafts, housing, rituals, festivals and oral traditions. It serves as a centre for cultural education and preservation of tribal knowledge systems.