Amongst the many museums that are present in Orissa, the state museum is the most famous. Started as subsidiary of history department of the Ravenshaw College, it houses a large number of antiquities.
It is a feast for the eyes of history lovers, as it contains a large collection of art and craft objects, archaeological objects and stone sculptures. Established in 1948, it is well known for the huge collection of ancient manuscripts that were written on palm leaves. A manuscript on which the devotional poem Gita Govinda was written in the 12th century is also preserved here in the museum. Even after such a long time, the rich colors on the 80 folios of the manuscripts have still remained intact.
Some of the artistic styles that have been influenced by Brahmanical and Buddhist style are also showcased here. Therefore this place should always remain on the top of the must visit list of every traveler.
