Guided museum tour to the International Museum Festival

Nearly 130 people participated in a mentored tour conducted on Sunday by the Ministry of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage. |Photo source: Ma Sriram

The International Museum Festival’s logo is a fascinating move called the “Wheel Museum”, with nearly 130 participants riding on Sunday in four prestigious museums and galleries in Mysuru.

Responsible by the Ministry of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, unveiled by the Department’s Commissioner A. Devaraju, who stressed the importance of museums in displaying artistic and cultural heritage and made people aware of their past.

He said visiting the museum is important because exhibits and artifacts help enrich the understanding of the region’s culture and traditions.

Nearly 130 people from Mysuru, Mandya and Hassan have registered for Heritage Tour, which requires a visit to the Wellington Museum, Payana, the Natural History Museum and the Mysuru Rail Museum. The event is completely free and open to the public, and participants waived the museum’s admission fee on the same day.

Mr Devaraju said: “The International Museum Council requested that International Museum Day be celebrated worldwide, and the theme for 2025 is “The Future of Museums in a rapidly changing community”. In this regard, the department also plans to hold debate competitions or essay writing competitions for schools and college students to engage them and help them understand the importance of museums and their evolving roles.

Mr. Devaraju also urged parents and teachers to take their children to the museum to help them stimulate their interest in issues related to art, culture, history and tradition.

The heritage tour includes a visit to Wellington Lodge, which features Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalay (IGRMS) and shows the evolution of culture from prehistoric times. The latest art gallery that recently showed off traditional paintings is the highlight of the new attractions.

Visit the Museum of Natural History to catch a glimpse of the flora and fauna of the region, as well as the unique geographical features of the southern part of the country, including the Western Ghats. Payana Museum on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway provides insight into the automotive legacy through its affluent four-wheeler collection.

In the Mysuru Railway Museum, founded in 1979, visitors explored the century-old steam locomotives owned by Maharani, the royal sedan belonging to Maharani, a railway bus, a steam-era inspection vehicle, etc.