Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing

Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, Jaipur Overview

The Anokhi Foundation aims to preserve the centuries-old customs and traditions of the artisans in Jaipur. the foundation has been running a museum, Anokhi Museum of Handmade Paintings, where it exhibits various artefacts in relation to the hand and block printing. Exhibiting the oldest forms of Rajasthani art, the Anokhi museum of hand printing houses more than a hundred hand printed garments keeping alive the age-old tradition of printing clothes. Located in the Anokhi haveli or the “Chanwar Palkiwalon ki Haveli”, the museum is a charitable foundation started by the clothing brand named Anokhi. The haveli which once used to a house of the royal palanquin bearers has been turned into a museum wherein you get a glimpse of the lengthy process of hand printing a garment. The restored gorgeous museum holds a UNESCO certification in 2000 for its amazing works in the preservation and interpretation of the art form.

This museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation and interpretation of block printed cloth. If you have an inclination towards art then this is a must for you and if not then a visit to this museum will surely awaken the artist and admirer inside you. The popular museum that opened in 2005 gains its popularity with its on-site demonstration of the art forms by the artisans. On the rooftop of the haveli, you will come across various artisans who showcase their works to the interested visitors.

Timings of the museum

You can visit this museum with mesmerizing art from Tuesday to Saturday between 10:30 am to 5:00 pm while on Sundays between 11:00 am to 4:30 pm. The museum is closed on Monday and all national as well as local holidays along with being shut down for a period of two months, that is, between 15 May and 15 July for gallery maintenance purposes.
The block printing or carving demonstrations that the museum hosts are paused for a certain amount of time. Hence, there is no such workshops between 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm on Fridays and between 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm on other days.

Entry Fees of the Museum

Further, to enter the museum you need to pay an entry fee. The amount of fee for an adult is 80 INR and for children, it is 25 INR. You must also be aware that any device of photography and videography is not allowed inside the museum. If you want to do so, you have to pay 100 INR that allows you to carry the device inside the museum.

Importance of the Museum

With the focus of the textile industry shifting from traditional patterns to the industrial products, the Anokhi Museum of Hand printing is dedicated towards the preservation and dissemination of the dying handcrafts and art forms. Further, the museum also supports a research program that studies hand printing art which is still worn in certain northern regions of the country. It also brings to light how these art forms can be incorporated into the western idea of clothing’ and many contemporary forms of art.
In addition, the museum is publishing a series of books that illustrate fabrics and appreciates the art forms and its skilled practitioners. Thus, also providing good employment opportunities to these artisans whose livelihood might have been damaged with the modern industries.

Exhibit at the Museum

A must visit for all the craft and fabric print lovers, the Anokhi Museum of Hand printing has a lot to offer that will remind you of the rich heritage and the cultural art forms of our country which are diminishing due to increasing industrial setup. The museum brings forward many contemporary designs created by talented and skilled artisans that help you to understand the 500-year-old traditional block printing process of Rajasthan. The museum houses both permanent collections as well as changing exhibitions falling into various ranges and selections along with tools, designs and all the related objects giving the spectator an in-depth picture into the complex process.
The permanent collection includes many old traditional patterns going back to the 1960s from the present ranging from gold and silver embellishment to other natural or chemically processed patterns. It also consists of various tools and other important objects that are often ignored. On the other hand, the changing exhibitions change from time to time focusing on particular forms of art.
While you witness these exquisite creations, you can also participate in the ongoing demonstrations of block carving and various hand printing forms all the while trying the art form yourself. You can go on group tours or special exhibition tours organized by the museum authorities which offer various unique ways to understand these creations.
You can visit the mini auditorium to view the short films and documentaries on related topics. The museum also has a shop that carries a selection of handcrafted merchandise created by the Anokhi artists inspired by their collections.

How To Reach Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing

Located near the most popular town of Rajasthan, Jaipur, the Anokhi Museum of Hand printing is a Haveli situated near the Kheri Gate, Amber which is 15 km from Jaipur.
Jaipur is well connected to major cities of the country through both Jaipur railway station and Jaipur airport which is also called the Sanganer airport. To reach the destination, the best route possible is to rent a taxi or a cab from Jaipur to the Anokhi Haveli.