Government Museum, Mathura – earlier the Curzon Archaeological Museum – is one of India’s most important archaeology museums. Located near Dampier Park, it houses a huge collection of sculptures, inscriptions, coins and terracotta from Mathura and nearby sites. Visitors see the famous “Mathura school” of red sandstone sculpture: Buddhist, Jain and Hindu images from the 3rd century BCE to the 12th century CE, along with artefacts from the Kushan and Gupta periods. For anyone interested in history, art or religion, this museum explains why Mathura was such a major ancient centre.
About this place
History & highlights
The museum was founded in 1874 by F. S. Growse, the then British collector of Mathura, who began assembling local antiquities at a time when the region was yielding spectacular finds. Initially a small district museum, it shifted locations before moving in 1930 into the present octagonal red-sandstone building. Over time it became the main repository for excavations from sites like Kankali Tila and Mora, preserving key inscriptions and sculptures that define the “Mathura school” in global art history. The Government of India even issued a postage stamp in 1974 to mark its centenary, recognising its national importance.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Click “Write a Review” above to share your experience.