The Bharat Kala Bhawan Museum is the institution of this most important of the city. It is located inside the campus Hindu University Varanasi and is home to a wonderful collection of sculpture, painting and textiles for various periods of history in the region.
Bharat Kala Bhawan is a place dedicated to art and architecture that houses materials of archaeological significance as works of art belonging to the Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
The museum's origins date back to 1920, when it was founded from the private collection of Rai Krishnadasa a man of Hindi literature and a pioneer of Indian art historians to be the establishment of the museum. The collection includes objects of terracotta, clay, stone, bronze and metalAnd jewelry, miniature paintings; literary material textile works of captivating beauty.
In the main hall of the museum boasts a sculpture of a man who stands on one leg, one hand on the hip and support the weight of a stone on his head. It is said that this is Krishna, Raising Mount Govardhana. Many other images are exhibited in the museum confirm the idea that there was a cult dedicated to Krishna in the region between the XV and XVI.
The terracotta pieces are more varied, covering a range from toys to the ritual icons found in Mauryan, Sunga and Gupta, in the Indus River Valley. The sandstone, one of the major materials is red sandstone of the second century BC.
The textile works include rare examples of exquisite Benares silk, brocade, cashmere shawls and fabrics once used for ceremonial offerings wrap. Many contain images and designs inspired by the life of Krishna.