Arna Jharna, The Desert Museum
| Place | Moklawas, Jodhpur |
|---|---|
| State | Rajasthan |
| Virtual Museum | No |
| Year of Establishment | 2000 |
| Museum Type | Ethnographic, Ecological, and Open-air Museum |
| National Importance Museum | No |
| Address | Arna Vihar Near Famous Arneshwar Mahadev Mandir Arna Jharna ,Village : Moklawas, Rajasthan 342001 |
| Visiting Time | 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM (Open all days) |
| Entry Fee | Indians: ₹100 (Adults), ₹50 (Children 6–12) Foreigners: ₹500 (Adults), ₹250 (Children 6–12) Childr |
Museum Introduction
Envisioned by the late folklorist Komal Kothari, Arna Jharna is a "living museum" that explores the traditional knowledge systems of the Thar Desert. Located in a reclaimed sandstone quarry, it integrates the surrounding ecology, flora, and fauna into its interactive exhibits.
General Collections
The collection focuses on the material culture of rural Rajasthan, featuring traditional musical instruments, varieties of pottery, and folk puppets (Kathputlis). It also includes a biodiversity collection of over 2,000 indigenous desert plants.
Unique Historical Collections
The Broom (Jhadu) Collection: A world-renowned ethnographic collection of over 180 types of brooms from various Rajasthani communities, categorized by agrarian zones to illustrate the link between biodiversity, labor, and social status.
Additional Information
| Video URL | https://youtu.be/MOYApFJ7sNU?si=ErLswKPu68wfsQKO |
|---|---|
| Video Courtesy | Kuldeep Kothari |
| Archaeological Survey of India | No |
| Notes | The museum features stone carvings near the boundary wall dated 1449 and 1503 AD that map historical water-flowing patterns of the site near the Arneshwar Mahadeva Temple. |
| Artifacts | Brooms (made of Daab, Khemp, and Jhojhri grass), Kamaicha, Jantar, Jogia Sarangi, Nagfani, Poongi, Ravanahatta, and various traditional terracotta storage vessels. |
| Highly Descriptive | Yes |
| Contact Details |
+91 94141 36361 +91 97724 34111 |
| Email ID |
info@arnajharna.org.in rupayansansthan@gmail.com |
Artifact Gallery
