The museum, along with
the Zamzama Gun located directly in front of the building, were made
famous in the celebrated British novel Kim, written by Rudyard Kipling - whose father was one
of the museum’s earliest curators. The museum is now also renowned for its
extensive collection of Buddhist art from the ancient Indo-Greek and Gandhara kingdoms.
It also has collections from the Mughal Empire, Sikh Empire and
the British Empire in India.
The museum
has a number of Greco Buddhist sculptures, Mughal and Pahari
paintings on display. The collection contains important relics from
the Indus Valley civilization, Gandhara, and Graeco Bactrian periods
as well. The Fasting Buddha, dating
from the Gandhara period, is one of the museums most prized and
celebrated objects. The ceiling of the entrance hall features a large mural by
renowned Pakistani artist Sadequain who originally made the mural in
1972 and 1973.
The museum also contains fine
specimens of Mughal and Sikh carved woodwork and has a large collection of
paintings dating back to the British period. The collection also
includes musical instruments, ancient jewellery, textiles, pottery, and armory,
as well as some Tibetan and Nepalese work on display.
