Stamped souvenir postcards available for purchase at a heritage art exhibition in Jaipur
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Inside the Maharaja School of Arts & Crafts Before the Museum of Legacies | Travel Photo Jaipur

In early 2016, a rare cultural event offered a fleeting, unfiltered look inside one of Jaipur’s most mysterious historic buildings. Long closed to the general public, the Maharaja School of Arts and Crafts temporarily opened its doors to host Travel Photo Jaipur, an open-air three day photography festival in Jaipur. At the time, the historic building was unkempt, showing years of neglect and urban decay. Shortly after, this historic haveli, many called Jaipur school of arts underwent massive restoration to become the Museum of Legacies. This is a visual journey back to that brief moment in 2016-a look at history displayed within history, just before it changed forever.

Travel Photo Jaipur is an open-air exhibition that is planned to take place every year in Jan-Feb over a period of two weeks. It features pictures in large frames at various historical monuments in Jaipur. To read more about it head to Travel Photo Jaipur/ Photography Festival Part I.  A display of old travel postcards in large poster sizes was organized at Maharaja School of Arts and crafts, Kishanpole bazaar, Jaipur on 5th-6th Feb 2016. It was curated by Akshay Mahajan, an artist from Mumbai. The building was later converted into the Museum Of Legacies. You read my in-depth post on the same here- Museum Of Legacies | Adaptive use of Havelis

To read part 1 of Travel Photo Jaipur click here

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The History of Madarsa-e-Hunar & Pandit Shivdeen Ki Haveli

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Before it became a school for local craftsmen, this stunning 150-year-old Haveli structure located in Kishanpole Bazaar was known as Pandit Shivdeen Ki Haveli, the private residence of an influential and wealthy minister in the Jaipur royal court. Recognizing the need to preserve and promote local Rajasthani craftsmanship, Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II converted it into the Madarsa-e-Hunar or School of Arts. Over years, the building nurtured the city’s artisans, specializing in traditional arts and craft, before ultimately falling into disuse and locking its gates to the world

History Within History – The Vintage Postcard Exhibition at Travel Photo Jaipur

The 2016 exhibition was curated by Mumbai-based artist Akshay Mahajan, who chose the building’s central, open-air courtyard specifically for its raw, atmospheric character. Akshay Mahajan has been collecting old travel postcards, many of them dating back to the pre-independence era.He was quite fixed on this venue from the day, the idea of this festival was proposed to him. Maharajah school of arts & craft Haveli, the venue for this exhibition has been closed to the public for the last few years.

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Akshay Mahajan. At Travel Photo Jaipur festival, Kishanpole Bazar, Jaipur
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The Vintage Travel Postcards at Maharaja School of Arts & Craft

Akshay Mahajan’s exhibition featured vastly enlarged prints of rare, pre-independence travel postcards. Prominently on display was a fascinating French series of Indian travel postcards dating back to the early 1900s.

The contrast was striking: century-old images of colonial-era travel hung against the peeling plaster, weathered arches, and quiet dust of an unrestored 19th-century haveli. Visitors were even invited to flip through Mahajan’s personal, rare collection of original postcards, and purchase stamped-out replicas as unique keepsakes.

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Travel postcards displayed at Maharajah School of Arts and craft At Travel Photo Jaipur festival 2016
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Visitors at the Photo Exhibition of Akshay Mahajan at Maharaja School of Arts & crafts, Kishanpole Bazar, Jaipur.
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Close-up shot of enlarged copies of Travel Postcard prints. Travel Photo Jaipur Festival, Jaipur 2016

Maharaja School of Art & Craft also known now as the Museum Of Legacies was unkempt as it has been closed for a long time. It was opened up to host Akshay’s exhibition. Years of negligence & lack of maintenance were evident.

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Inside Maharajah school of arts & crafts, Kishanpole Bazar Jaipur.
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Xerox of travel postcards on display at Travel Photo Jaipur festival 2016
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Some more copies of travel postcards.

Akshay Mahajan was sporting a loose Kurta & Pajama paired with a woolen sleeveless Nehru jacket. It’s a dress synonymous with Indian artists and journalists.

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Akshay Mahajan showed around his collection to the visitors.
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One of the visitors, Soma, Jaipur based block print brand owner – Andrée Pouliot flipping through Akshay’s personal collection of rare travel postcards.

Akshay was kind enough to offer visitors his original & rare collection of travel postcards.

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Akshay stamped out copies of original travel postcards meant for sale to the visitors.

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Akshay Mahajan, posing with few local boys. Travel Photo Jaipur festival 2016

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Few old travel postcards. At Travel Photo Jaipur 2016 festival
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Travel Postcards for sale at Travel Photo Jaipur 2016.

Travel Photo Jaipur is a new contemporary festival that Rajasthan Government wants to promote, in line with their new tourism campaign kick-started recently. It is interesting to meet & interact with people like Akshay Mahajan and gain a new perspective. At the time, this was the first time I was able to venture inside the historic building of the Rajasthan School of Arts & Crafts. It was previously called Madarsa E Hunar or Pandit Shivdeen Ki Haveli.

Pictures of Maharaja School of Art & Craft or Madarsa-E-Hunari

During my visit I was fortunate to visit inside the building which was known as Madarsa-e-Hunari before it was renamed Maharaja School of Art & Craft during the period of Sawai Ram Singh II’s rule. The condition of the buildings and its room was in a bad shape. Although I have many more pictures, I am posting only two pictures after this historic school closed down and the institution was relocated near Smriti Van and Jawahar Kala Kendra.

A room inside Maharaja school of art and crafts known as madarsa e hunari after it closed down
A room inside Maharaja school of art and crafts known as madarsa e hunari after it closed down
hand painted Rajasthani frescoes on wall of Maharaja schoool of art & craft Jaipur with kings marriage celebration procession

Then and Now: The Transition of Maharaja School of Art & Craft to the Museum of Legacies

Walking through the corridors in 2016, the years of negligence and lack of maintenance were glaringly evident. Yet, there was an undeniable magic to the unvarnished, peeling walls of the old school. Today, the building has been completely revitalized. The dust has been swept away, the walls stabilized, and the property reborn as the Museum of Legacies, dedicated to showcasing the rich material culture, textiles, and traditional arts of Rajasthan. While the pristine modern museum is an asset to Jaipur’s heritage tourism, looking back at these images reminds us of the haunting beauty that lived in its quiet, unrestored spaces.

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136 thoughts on “Inside the Maharaja School of Arts & Crafts Before the Museum of Legacies | Travel Photo Jaipur”

  4. I am still keeping in mind to start issuing my own travel postcards. This festival seems to be truly inspiring for people to see the world and for photographers to print their photos. Great experience.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Lidiia, a lot of bloggers in India have started printing postcards and calendars for sale. I’m not sure if that’s a profitable venture. But if you have takers… go ahead! Why don’t you print a series on Ukraine? The best places in Ukraine captured by you?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thank you, I’m happy that you liked it. Do let me know if you need any help. If you prefer I can show you few places provided I’m able to take out some time. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hi Arv, I visited Jaipur for 2 days and visited city palace and Bapu bazaar. I plan to visit Jaipur again in Dec for a wedding. Any suggestions on 2-3 must visit places. I dont think I would get more than a day to do sightseeing.

        Liked by 2 people

  6. They’re simply amazing! I love browsing through history, in any form! I’m sure it must have been a great experience:-)…
    Of course, Jaipur has no dearth of art & history….I wish we had got to spend some more time when we visited!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Divya, my love for history of Jaipur city started two years ago. so I’m still discovering. Yes, it was amazing, it was quite unique concept as well as presentation. Do plan your trip again.Will help and take you around, if you permit! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. That’s very kind of you to comment, Heather! I hope you will enjoy reading the write ups posted here on this blog and will visit again! Thank You, once again 🙂

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  13. Hi Arv, I enjoyed reading this post.Such a lovely old building! And truly impressive collection of postcards.
    I have nominated you for the 3 day quotes challenge.Hope you’d accept it despite your busy schedule.There is no compulsion. pls check my last post. Thanks.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you for reading and appreciating this post.I’m happy you liked it.
      Appreciate your nomination. I regret to inform you that I don’t participate in these challenges as I find it difficult to find time. Also I only post pertaining to Jaipur. I m privileged to have been nominated by you. Thank You 🙂

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      Reply

    1. Thank you for appreciating the post. I’m happy you liked it. I’m curious to know more about your father -where he lived and what he did, if that’s not sounding to be evasive. Do let me know if I can be of your help! 🙂

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      Reply

      1. ah well its a sore subject because he went to India as a child. His father was in the British Army ( sorry, I know its sensitive, ) but he was seconded to the Indian Army to help on the Afghan Border. Not sure you would want to know more because as I said, I understand it can be sensitive, but I am writing up some of their stories and hoping to rekindle where they lived for quite a few years.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It’s perfectly okay to talk about it. In general, current Indian generation don’t look at British people with animosity or hatred despite all that happened in past. We live in different times. I think we all need to look at events of past with their own context. Hope this helps. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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