Urusvati Museum: A folk route to the past

Hidden away from the hustle-bustle of Gurgaon is a quaint little museum displaying folk tales of love and bravery that provide a connect to our glorious past. Built in 2002, the Urusvati Museum of folklore in Shikhopur Village looks like a traditional Rajasthani Haveli with light pink walls and brick jalis in the shape of arches.

Hidden away from the hustle-bustle of Gurgaon is a quaint little museum displaying folk tales of love and bravery that provide a connect to our glorious past.

Built in 2002, the Urusvati Museum of folklore in Shikhopur Village looks like a traditional Rajasthani Haveli with light pink walls and brick jalis in the shape of arches. It has terracotta panels depicting stories of Mirabai, Rana Pratap Singh, and Lord Krishna.

Fun with folk art

The first and second floors of the museum house artifacts from different states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The popular love sagas of Punjab, such as Heer-Ranjha, Laila Majnu, Sohni Mahiwal, and Sassi Punnu, are featured on the walls. The folklore of Rajasthan, like Bani Thani depicted in Krishangarh, Madhumalti (the princess of Jodhpur) and Dholmaru (the love saga from Jodhpur), also find space on the walls. Tales of Shiv and Parvati, depicted in pahadi style miniature paintings, take you to the land of Himachal Pradesh.

Crafts and costumes

There are also costumes, crafts and jewellry from various state. The phulkaris and parandis of Punjab, odhnis from Rajasthan, jogi singers from Haryana, thirin (coat from Kashmir), chola and pattoo from Kullu and chaddru from Kangra are the different costumes on display. Crafts like blue pottery and kaavads from Rajasthan, sikki grass figurines of Lord Shiva, Parvati and Kali from Bihar, traditional headgear from Madhya Pradesh, made from cow horns, give a glimpse of the handicrafts.

If you feel thirsty after the tour of the museum, get treated to a glass of fresh lemonade or ginger tea for Rs10 in the natural environs. It is better to give a day’s prior notice to the management for food arrangements. You can also carry your own picnic basket, which you can enjoy in the orchards outside the museum.

Explore for yourself

What: Urusvati Museum of folklore

Timing: 10am to 6.30pm

Where: Shikhopur Village, Gurgaon

Closed on: Mondays

Entry: Rs 50 per person

Contact: 9810605910