Raja Dinkar Kelkar museum

Introduction
The impressive Museum collection of 21,000 priceless artifacts recalls the historic Indian culture and traditions which gently lead to more and more treasures. Creations in stone, wood, metal, ivory, fabric and clay that endure as the full realization of human craftsmanship. The Museums highlight Mastani Mahal reveals the mansion of Mastani, the famous concubine of Peshwa Bajirao Ist - Kakas tribute to the grandeur of a bygone era. A collection as varied as life itself. As awesome as mans genius. A collection where each artifact reveals the powerful creative craft of its unknown creator.

Location

Map of maharashtra

Map of pune

Site map

Accessibility Swargate : 3 kms Railway station : 4kms Airport : 13 kms

Location plan

Surroundings The structure neighbours small restaurant adjacent to it. Few furniture shops A small banquet hall

Concept :
Raised in the memories of his son Raja who died an untimely death the collection took shape. The building from outside is very simple but interiors give a vernacular feeling. It is a wada construction with archways and corridors. A residential old pune wada space converted into an museum. Total area: divided into 2 blocks, which are connected at 2nd floor. 1st block- G + 3 2nd block- G + 2

Collection:
Artifacts of historical and cultural importance. About 20,000 artifacts, ranging from 3rd Century A.D till 19th Century A.D. 40 different categories. Museum swelled to about 21,000 pieces of which only about 2,500 are available to the adoring public for the want of Space. 14 % artifacts on display only. Proposed project to be funded by Central government, Maharashtra state government, Pune and Pimpri- Chinchwad Corporation. Museum has tie-ups with Federal republic of Germany.

Funding provided by:

Activities

Administration block : Graphics art and multimedia studio: serves the purpose of digital documentation, collection management, system automation, audio visual presentation. Reference library. conservation laboratories.

GROUND FLOOR

Block A

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

BLOCK A

THIRD FLOOR

GROUND FLOOR

BLOCK B
FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

BLOCK B

THIRD FLOOR

GROUND FLOOR GALLERY

Wood Work and Sculptures
On the L passage of the ground floor at the entrance have been arranged the artistically decorated doors and windows along with their panels and brackets with proper settings on the wall. The stone sculptures displayed here along the wall are unmistakably kept in a perspective order adding to the aesthetic sense of the visitors.

Gujarat Gallery, Vanita Kaksha

In the Vanita Kaksha of the new building, also situated on the ground floor, one can very well visualize how a day is begun by an indian woman involving the use of Vajris i.e. foot cleaners, the mirrors, the combs, the collyrium-boxes and the kumkum-caskets.

Indian Paintings
In the smaller room the museum has displayed the Indian Paintings of different kinds belonging to 17th to 19th Century, i.e. Glass Paintings, cloth paintings, paintings on parchment, paintings on the leather and paper.

Door Gallery
At the Exit of the museum, there have been arranged the artistically decorated doors and windows of the temple and the then existing houses from various parts of India.

FIRST FLOOR GALLERY

Kitchen Utensils
In the gallery of the Kitchen Utensils on the 1st floor amazing are the big vessels for cooking food in large quantity normally served in festivals and marriages-parties. This gallery also exhibits the day to day used kitchen wares, and artistic touch such as wood, metal, stone, hide, paperMache, terracotta, ceramic etc. the measure in wood and the kiln belonging to 16th cent. And the noodle stand also attract the minds of the visitors.

Musical Instruments
The other part of the 1st floor is occupied by the beautiful collection of the Musical Instruments of various kinds. The Museum proposes to p our music into these instructions by making them enjoyable through Casset-Recording.

SECOND FLOOR GALLERY Lamps and tambool

In the other part of the 2nd floor are exhibited the bronzes, the lamps of profuse variety, the tambool artifacts and the writing materials along with the decorative ink pots, sun lamps from nepal and kadamba tree lamps with the RaasLeela depicted on them.

Textile

In the gallery of textile on the 2nd floor figure mainly the textiles from the different parts of the country. While the paithanies from paithan of Maharashtra with Jari work and Embroidery impress upon the visitors the richness of the style of garments of the olden times, the rabari garments take him to the prominent folk style in Gujarat, Kutch and Kathiawad

THIRD FLOOR GALLERY Toys and Masks

On the third floor space has been provided for special Exhibition in which attempt is made to exhibit sections which cannot be displayed in the permanent show. Presently there is a special Exhibition on armors and Tulsi Vrindavans. For children there are toys and masks to educate and entertain.

limitations
1. 2. 3. 4. Total display area- Only 14 % of the entire artifacts on display. According to the circulation planning one has to go to third floor and then attend the second floor, which creates confusion in the minds of the visitors. Due to inadequate space, facilities like conference room, interactive learning space. Temporary exhibition area, cafeteria, etc. As, the present location lies in the core city, where there are 3 schools working full time, and commercial around, the museum traffic adds to the kiosk. Insufficient parking space. Difficult to avoid the harm caused due to pollution. No proper ventilation. Due to inadequate maintenance facility in the present premises, the beauty and longevity of these priceless artifacts are being adversely affected.

5. 6. 7. 8.

Display cabinets block up the windows

Single ventilation fan provided in the library

 Due to the many limitations, the museum is now planned to shift. In its present layout the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum houses mere 12.5 % of Dr. Kelkar's extensive collection. This project has been conceived to create a complex of international standard to house the entire Kelkar collection, other exhibits, a recreation of the fabulous Mastani Mahal, research and storage facilities and the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Institute of Musicology and Fine Arts. the Museum City Complex with five times the current exhibition space in carefully controlled settings with centralized air conditioning and the latest display techniques and security systems against fire and theft. The Museum will fulfill its role as an educator and guardian of the treasures it stores. While the administrative block will house the offices of the Director and the Curators the custodians of this collection. Professionally managed it will also have the publication and the sales division. The Mastani Mahal a recreation of 18th Century Mansion will be the show piece of the collection with audio visual displays of Maratha grandeur. the field of musicology, art history and anthropology will be the chief concern of the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Institute of Musicology and Fine Arts The modern auditorium will seat after 350 people in comfort The Library will complement academic research in many fields Archeology, History, Anthropology, Sociology and Literature with its priceless books and documents. The Exhibition center & Art Gallery will offer a modern space for artists and craftsman to hold exhibitions There will also be a well equipped Workshop, a Mini Amusement Park, a Museum Shoppe, a Multimedia Studio, a Cultural Village, a Students Hostel, a Guest House, a Laboratory and high tech communication facilities.

Proposed site

new museum city complex