Rani Durgavati Museum

About the Rani Durgavati Museum

This is the indoor stop on a Jabalpur itinerary, and its location near Russell Chowk puts it within easy reach of anywhere in the city, which matters on a hot afternoon or a day when the weather has ruled out the Narmada. The museum is named for Queen Durgavati, the Gond ruler whose name attaches to a great deal in this part of Madhya Pradesh.

The collection has three strands. There is sculpture brought in from the Chausath Yogini temple, which gives visitors who are not going out to the temple itself a chance to see the carving at close range. There are letters and photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, a holding that sits naturally in a city with Jabalpur's place in the freedom movement. And there is a gallery of Adivasi culture and artefacts, which for many visitors is the most rewarding part, since the material culture of the region's tribal communities is not easy to see assembled anywhere else nearby.

The collections

Chausath Yogini sculpture

Sculptures from the Chausath Yogini temple are held here, close enough to examine properly. For a city visitor it is the practical way to see this carving without making the trip out to the temple.

Gandhi letters and photographs

The museum holds letters and photographs of Mahatma Gandhi. They connect directly with the city's own record in the freedom movement, including the events at Tilwara Ghat.

The Adivasi gallery

A gallery of Adivasi culture and artefacts, covering the material life of the region's tribal communities. It is the section most visitors spend longest in.

Planning your visit

An hour to ninety minutes is right for the whole museum. Being in the city centre, it slots into almost any day.

• Check the day's opening hours and the weekly closing day before going.
• Confirm whether photography is permitted; museum rules vary by gallery.
• Use it as the indoor option when the Narmada excursions are rained off or the afternoon is too hot.
• Combine with Kachnar City and the Hanumantal Jain temple for a complete city half day.

Best time to visit

The museum works in any season, which is exactly its value. In the hot months it is the sensible place to spend the middle of the day, and during the monsoon it is the reliable alternative when boating and the gorge are out. Weekday mornings are the quietest.