Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, BHU Varanasi

Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum, located within the Banaras Hindu University, is a treasure trove of art and culture. The museum showcases a diverse collection of sculptures, paintings, jewelry, textiles, and more, offering visitors a comprehensive look into India’s rich artistic and archaeological heritage. As one of the key attractions in Varanasi, the museum provides an immersive experience for those interested in delving into the city’s cultural tapestry.

Bharat Kala Bhavan, museum came into existence in January 1920 as Bharat Kala Parishad. Its first Honorable Chairman (for life) was poet Rabindranath Tagore and its Honorable Vice-Chairman was poet’s nephew Silpacharya Abanindranth Tagore.  But in reality, the credit for the origin and subsequent development of this museum goes to Padmavibhushan Late Rai Krishnadasa – a renowned writer in Hindi and a pioneer among the Indian art historians.   

Founded with a modest  collection, the museum has a record of steady growth and its present holding exceeds 100,000 antiquities. The collection includes archaeological materials, paintings, textiles and costumes, decorative art, Indian philately and literary and archival   materials. Most of its collections are historically important, aesthetically beautiful and enjoy a certain amount  of uniqueness. The museum is fully dedicated to the cause of higher education and multidisciplinary research.

The academic possibilities of this museum being immense, it has acquired the status of a university museum of national importance.