Nalanda Archaeological Museum

About this place

The Nalanda Archaeological Museum was established in 1971 and comprises the relics of the ancient Nalanda University. It provides an insight of the Pala Art, which is an example of the creative arts taught at the Nalanda University. Its sculptures showcase the attires, ornaments and societal features of the Pala Period. The sculptures, manuscripts, seals and statues portrayed here are regarded as the finest display of the people and culture of ancient Indian society. This complete museum is divided into four main galleries housing 13463 antiquities that have been excavated from 349 sites. Most of these artefacts date back to the time between 5th and 12th century AD and reflect Buddhist, Jain and Hindu ideologies. The statues kept in this museum are of stucco, bronzes, stone and terracotta, but majority are of Basalt stone. The main hall at this museum includes 16 sculptures of Trailokya Vijay, Maitreya, Buddha in Varad, Dharmachakra and Bhumisparsh postures, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Parshvanath and Nagaraj sculptures etc.