State Museum, Bhopal

The Madhya Pradesh State Museum in Bhopal, located on Shyamla Hills, is the principal state museum of Madhya Pradesh established in 1964 and shifted to its present building in 2005. It houses extensive collections spanning prehistory, archaeology, sculpture, paintings, textiles and tribal heritage. Notable for its 16 thematic galleries including fossils, prehistoric tools, sculptures from the 5th to 12th centuries and miniature paintings, it provides a comprehensive overview of the region's natural and cultural heritage.

Visitors can expect a modern two-storey museum building with 16 thematic galleries arranged chronologically and thematically. Galleries display fossils including a 160-million-year-old specimen, prehistoric tools, excavated artefacts, stone sculptures, bronzes, coins, miniature paintings, manuscripts, textiles and tribal art. The setting on Shyamla Hills is quiet and landscaped, with well-lit display halls, information panels and guided tour options for exploring Madhya Pradesh's archaeological and cultural history.

Established in 1964 as the state museum of Madhya Pradesh, initially housed in Banganga area. Shifted to a new purpose-built complex on Shyamla Hills inaugurated in 2005. The collection incorporates artefacts from excavations across Madhya Pradesh, including prehistoric sites, ancient temple sculptures and historical archives, representing the state's history from geological times to the modern period.

Showcases the cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh through sculptures, paintings, manuscripts, textiles, tribal artefacts and numismatics. The galleries illustrate the evolution of art and craftsmanship in central India, including Gupta and medieval temple art, Malwa miniature paintings and tribal traditions, serving as a key centre for cultural education and preservation.