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Along the cobble-stoned bylanes just a kilometre outside Amber fort, stands the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, with traditional pink sandstone walls and balconies typical of Mughal and Rajasthani architectural mix. The museum is dedicated to hand block printing, an art form specific to the region and also the oldest.

The hall on the ground floor lays a huge board on which artists spread out clothes and immerse themselves in turning a plain piece of cloth into its most artistic form, reflecting the richness of diversity. The museum is a haven for print lovers.

There are master artists who keep themselves busy in carving intricate designs on the wooden as well as brass blocks, the most important yet the most neglected aspect of the craft. There is detailed information on types of fabric and details of the print that goes along with them. As part of the usual practice, the wooden blocks are soaked in oil overnight after the carving is completed. They are cleaned and then used for printing with the use of natural dyes from vegetables, indigo, and turmeric.

The permanent collection is called ‘Anokhi Archives’ wherein more than 100 garments, carving blocks, block printed textiles are on display that are dated as old as early 1960s. Apart from textiles and blocks, the collection also displays home furniture items used during the time.

The galleries in the museum are named as per the information that’s on display. They are namely, Introduction, Haveli Restoration, Regional Textiles, Natural and Chemical Dyes, Block Printing and Carving Tools, Gold and Silver printing, Demonstration area.

The museum also conducts custom made guided exhibition tours for adults and children to provide information regarding the collection. The museum also conducts a two day workshop on block printing and wood carving for people interested in learning the craft.

There is a museum shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs from their rich collection of handcrafted merchandise ranging from clothing, furniture, textiles, jewellery, books and cards, all belonging to their limited edition.

Location of Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing Jaipur

The Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing is located 12.8 kilometres from the city centre, at Sagard Road near Kheri Gate which is 1 kilometre from Amber Palace.

History of Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing Jaipur

Anokhi as a brand, was established way before the foundation of the museum was laid. The brand was founded by Rachel’s in-laws, Faith Singh and J. P ‘John’ Singh during the early 1970s.

Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing is the brainchild of Rachel Bracken Singh, along with husband Pritam Singh. They started the museum in 2002 with the vision to conserve the age old craft of hand block printing, which is an intricate part of Rajasthani culture and tradition. Rachel is the Founder and Director of the museum.

Although it was Rachel who initiated the founding and setting up the museum, it was her father-in-law, John Singh who purchased the ruined mansion during the late 1970s. The restoration work on the mansion started around 1989 and included renowned architects, Nimish patel and Parul Zaveri.

Rachel was very particular in restoring the building to its original grandeur as much as possible. Help came from the local artisans and craftsmen, along with the use of traditional architectural techniques and local materials.

It took 3 years to complete the renovation and bring the mansion back to its original form. Due to the preservation work done during the restoration of the mansion, the museum was conferred with the ‘Cultural Heritage Conservation’ award by UNESCO in the year 2000.

The building that houses the museum was once an ancient dilapidated mansion in ruins. The original name of the mansion used to be Chanwar Palkiyon ki Haveli before it was renamed Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. However, the locals still call it by its original name. It is said that the mansion once was used by the palanquin bearers as their rest house during the time when royals ruled the world.

The opening exhibition of the museum was named ‘Print Progress – Innovation and Revival 1970-2005. The exhibition was put together by the then Museum Consultant, Pramod Kumar along with Emma Ronald who was the then museum curator.

At present, Suki Skidmore is the curator and visiting consultant of the museum and has been working alongside Rachel since 2007.

Image Gallery of Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing Jaipur, India

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Timings and Entry Fees of Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing Jaipur

Timings: The museum is open between 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Tuesdays through Saturdays. On Sundays, the museum timings are between 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays. Additionally, the museum remains closed from 15th May to 15th July for annual maintenance and exhibitions overchangings.

Entry Fees: Entry Fee to visit the Anokhi Museum is INR 30 for adults, INR 15 for children, INR 20 for students with a valid ID card. The charges for a still camera is INR 50 and video camera is INR 150

Places to visit near Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing Jaipur

1. Amber Fort and Palace: Commonly called Amer Fort, this was the old capital and the seat of the rulers of Kachwaha Dynasty before the capital was shifted to Jaipur. The massive fort speaks of magnificence and opulence of the royals. A visit to Amer fort will leave any visitor in awe of its architecture, landscaping, history and the mix of traditions that reflect in the designs of each section of the palace.

2. Jal Mahal: Situated right in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, the Jal Mahal is an excellent example of Rajasthani grandeur. What one can see from distance is only 1 out of 5 floors of the palace because the rest of the four floors remain underwater. Visit the palace to experience royalty.

3. Jaigarh Fort: Famous for its subterranean passages linked to the Amer fort, the Jaigarh fort was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II with the intention to protect the Amer fort complex. This fort boasts to house ‘Jaivana’, a cannon which was the world’s largest cannon on wheels at the time it was built. Visit the fort and come back mesmerized with the extent of precision of the architecture and design which particularly focuses towards the defense of both Amer and Jaigarh forts.

How to Reach Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing Jaipur

Since Jaipur is well connected by all means of transport, it is easier to reach the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing. One may hire taxis, auto rickshaws or e-rickshaws. Visitors may also rent a cab from top car rental companies in Jaipur for a comfortable ride.

If one plans to visit after their visit to Amer fort, they may walk towards Kheri Gate and look out for sign boards of the museum. It is very easy to miss hence asking the locals would be helpful.

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Location Map for Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing Jaipur