There are a number of museums that can be included in the museum tour of Rajasthan, India. Museums can be found in almost all the large and small cities of Rajasthan. Most of the museums in Rajasthan are housed in the old forts and palaces, reflecting the rich history of the state. Read on this Rajasthan museum guide to know about of some of the well-known museums of the state:

City Palace Museum - Jaipur
 
Located within the City Palace complex and nestled amidst old buildings, temples and the palace quarters, this museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. The exhibits consist of the ancestral collections built up by the successive rulers of Amer and Jaipur. A small selection of paintings, manuscripts, maps, carpets, textiles, costumes, weapons and armours was displayed in the Pothikhana (library) and the Silehkhana or armoury (both of these in their present form, were established in 1952) of the palace.

The Art Gallery is housed in the Diwan-i-Aam constructed for holding important State functions. A variety of objects-miniature paintings, illustrated manuscripts, decorated bookcovers, palm-leaf and Sanchipat manuscripts, old printed books, gigantic Mughal carpets, gold and silver Takhis-Rawan (movable throne), covered Ambabadis and open Howdahs, palanquins and carriages with richly embroidered velvet coverings are displayed in this gallery. There are rare bird and animal studies by Ustad Mansur, court scenes, battle scenes, portraits and mythological paintings by famous Mughal painters.

A very rare gold brocaded velvet throne carpet bearing seal marks and notes dating back to 1605 A.D., two richly embroidered window curtains belonging to the mid-seventeenth century and a finely woven gold and silk circular Thal-Posh (dish cover) also belonging to the seventeenth century are worthy of mention.

Hawa Mahal Museum - Jaipur 

Just behind the beautiful Hawa Mahal(Palace of Winds) in the adjoining Partap Mandir, a museum was setup in the year 1983. Preserved here is the sculptural heritage collected from Ganeshwar, Virat Nagar, Raid, Sambhar and Nagar.

Albert Hall Museum - Jaipur

Located in the centre of the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, this is the oldest Museum in the State. It was built in 1876 when King Edward VII visited India as the Prince of Wales. It was opened to public in 1886

Archaeological Museum - Amer (Jaipur)

Located in the Dil-e-Aaram Gardens, of Amer, the ancient capital of Jaipur, and established in 1949. Prior to this, the excavated material from Rairh, Bairat, Sambhar, Nagar etc. and the sculptures and epigraphs collected from various sites in the erstwhile jaipur State were housed at Vidyadhar Gardens in Purana Chat. In July 1949 the entire collection was transferred to Dil-e-Aaram Garden, a part of the old palace at Amer. An Art Gallery was inaugurated in 1992 in this complex.The museum is divided into three sections.

 Virat Nagar Museum (Jaipur)

In the ancient India, during the epic period, the area around Jaipur, Alwar and Bharatpur was known as Matsayadesh. Virat Nagar was the capital of Matsayadesh. The museum contains and displays an amazing collection of excavated material like statues, old coins, potteries, seals, old coins, metallic pieces, weapons, etc.

Govt. Museum - Ajmer

Situated in the heart of the old city and close to the railway station the museum is housed in the beautiful fort and palace built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1570. It was here that the British envoy Sir Thomas Roe met Emperor jahangir in 1616. What is today commonly known as Magazine is the palace quarters where the emperors lived. After British occupation in 1818 and during the first war of Independence in 1857 it was used as the Rajputana Arsenal by the British which gave the name magazine.
 
Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum - Udaipur

 The interesting collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings.
 
Govt. Museum - Bharatpur
 
Located in the centre of the famous Lohagarh Fort, the Bharatpur Museum houses a rich collection of archaeological wealth of the nearby areas as from the old Bharatpiir State. The huge palatial building Kachahari Kalan, once the administrative block of the rulers of Bharatpur state, was converted into a Museum in 1944. Lateron, the Kamra Khas (personal chamber) building on the first floor was added to the museum. It exhibits sculptures found during the excavation of old villages e.g. Noh, Mailah, Bareh, Bayana etc. ranging from the Kuslian period.

Govt. Museum - Alwar
 
Housed in the old City Palace, it has a unique collection of arms, bidri work, lacquered and ivory work, musical instruments, stuffed animals, beautiful brass and pottery works from Jaipur, Multan, Bengal and Ceylon, miniature paintings and Persian and Sanskrit manuscripts. The museum is divided into three major sections, each housed in a big hall.

Govt. Museum - Jodhpur 

Located in the Umaid gardens on High Court Road, it has a large and fairly interesting collection. There are many stuffed animal, inclusing a number of desert birds in two glass cases, each with a thorn bush. The military section includes cumbersome wooden biplane models and an extraordinary brass battelship.
 
Mehrangarh Museum - Jodhpur

An excellent museum with rare and interesting artifacts, textiles, paintings, transport items etc. laid out with utmost care and thought.The Palanquin and Howdah Galleries display a superb collection of old and costly specimens of great historical value.

Umaid Bhavan Palace Museum - Jodhpur

The ruling family of Jodhpur has recently converted a part of the gigantic Umaid Bhawan Palace as a palace museum. Items on display are rare collection of rocks, watches, fine china, ornate mirrored furniture, glass and crystal ware, photographs etc.
 
 Fort Museum, Junagarh fort, Bikaner

 Ganga Mahal, the imposing halls added by Maharaja Gailga Singh, now houses the Fort Museum. It contains a fine collection of antique Rajput, weaponry, jade handle daggers, camel hide d17als (shields) and inlaid handguns and camel guns. Cold and silver howdahs, jhulas, kis and a firstworld war biplane are on view. Other important objects include a pairof drums belonging to jamblioji, the saint who predicted the foundation of the dynasty by Rao Bika for 450 years. Photographs and items of personal use by Maharaja Ganga Singh and miniatures are also on view.

 
Alwar Government Museum

Alwar government museum is situated in the old City Palace. Displayed in the museum, is a rich unique collection of brass work, pottery, stuffed animals, ivory work, arms, lac work, musical instruments, miniature paintings, Persian and Sanskrit manuscripts, etc.

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Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum

Located in the Lallgarh Palace, is the Ganga Golden Jubilee museum containing an array of items used and collected by Maharaja Ganga Singh and his successors. Some of them are trophies, movie projectors, cameras, old photographs, weapons, etc. there is also the Anup Library housing a rare and valuable collection of Sanskrit manuscripts.