National Art Gallery

Housed within the Government Museum complex is the National Art Gallery. Known earlier as the Victoria Memorial Hall, the gallery built in 1906, is situated in a splendid Indo-Saracenic edifice and was designed by Henry Irwin. The gallery has a good collection of old paintings and sculptures including Tanjore paintings on glass; Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings; Deccan paintings from 17th century; and handcrafts, metal-ware, and ivory carvings from 11th and 12th century.

In addition, the gallery also has a section devoted solely to contemporary art where work by eminent painters such as Ravi Varma and his son Raja Raja Varma are displayed. The National Art gallery is opened from9.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on all days except Fridays and National