Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum Manali (Entry Fee, Timings, History, Images, Location & Entry ticket cost price)

The Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum, located in Naggar, is one of the well-known museums of Himachal Pradesh. The building, where the art gallery and museum has been set up, was once the residence of Nicholas Roerich, a Russian artist who settled down here in the 1920s till his death in 1947. He was a popular painter, who is credited to have painted almost 7000 paintings, out of which some 500 odd are related to the Himalayas. He was fondly called as the Master of the Mountains.

In 1962, his son Svetoslav Roerich transformed their residence into an art gallery and museum, in memory of his late father. Later, a trust was formed jointly by the Himachal Pradesh Government and the Russian Government to run this museum.

The main attraction of the museum is the original paintings of Nicholas Roerich; oil paintings by Russian artists; local folk art and a beautiful collection of costumes belonging to Kullu, Lahaul Spiti, Ladakh and Tibet regions. The museum also houses a few photos of Nicholas; his original work on the Himalayas, which includes paintings of monasteries, local architecture and culture as well as landscapes and mountains.

History of Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum

Nicholas Roerich was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia in October 1874. He had a keen interest in painting, history, archeology and the rich traditions of the East, since childhood. Nicholas studied law and arts with his main interest areas being archaeology, literature, philosophy and art. He was an exceptional painter – the testimony of which is on display in the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery.

Nicholas was an activist too, who championed the cause of preserving architecture and art during the times of war. He was influential in getting the legal recognition that cultural monuments are quite important and hence, should not be destroyed in war or used for military purposes. This treaty signed by different countries to protect cultural monuments in the times of war came to be known as the Roerich Pact. Nicholas Roerich was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize many times.

In 1923, he along with his family came to India and settled at Kullu. He traveled and explored the Himalayan region including regions like Mongolia, Turkestan, Tibet and Altai besides the Indian side of the Himalayas, specially Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti. He really wanted to study the language, religion, customs and culture of the region.

Out of his 7000 paintings, Nicholas Roerich made about 500 of them on the scenes of the Himalayas. Many of these 500 artworks beautifully depict the breathtaking landscapes and snow-clad mountain peaks, while the rest include local architecture, monasteries and culture. He was so much in awe of the Himalayan region that he even documented local flora, fauna and folklores.

Nicholas Roerich took his last breath in 1947 at Kullu. After his death, his son, Svetoslav Roerich decided to turn their house into an art gallery as a dedication to his late father. In 1962, the dream of Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum became a reality. Today, this art gallery and museum is being maintained by a trust, which is formed by the Russian Government and the Himachal Government.

Architecture of Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum

The Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum complex consists of two floors. The first floor has been preserved as a memorial of Nicholas Roerich. The original furniture and the interiors have been kept the way it was when Nicholas Roerich lived here. This floor is not entirely open to the public owing to its dilapidated shape. Visitors are not allowed to enter the rooms; however, they can take a walk around the adjoining balcony and see into these rooms through the glass windows.

The ground floor has been converted into the art gallery and museum, where some of the original paintings of Nicholas Roerich are on display. The paintings wonderfully depict the beauty of the snow-covered peaks and valleys of the Himalayas. This floor also has on display oil paintings of other Russian artists, local costumes and folk art, door framework, wood carvings and an attractive collection of attires of the Tibet, Kullu, Ladakh and Spiti-Lahaul regions.

Things to do at Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum

On a visit to this amazing museum and art gallery, tourists can explore the popular Himalayan paintings of Nicholas Roerich, along with the local folk art, costumes and other special items on display.

They can also head to the upper floor of the building to witness the rooms, where an illustrious artist like Nicholas Roerich stayed during the last part of his life. Besides spending time at this place, tourists can plan to visit another important attraction of the place – the Naggar Castle.

Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum Timings and Entry Fee

The museum remains open on all days except Mondays and National Holidays. During the months from November to March, the museum timings are 10 am to 5 pm while it is 10 am to 6 pm from April till October. It remains closed from 1 pm to 1.30 pm for lunch break. The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the scheduled closing time of the museum.

The entry fee for the museum visit is Rs. 50 per adult and Rs. 20 for children. The camera fee is Rs. 25 while video camera fee is Rs. 60.

How to Reach Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum, Naggar, Himachal Pradesh

The Manali Bus stand is at a distance of about 21 km from Naggar Bus Stop. Frequent buses are available from Manali to Naggar on all days. It takes about 30 minutes to reach this village. From Naggar Bus Stop, tourists can avail private taxis to reach the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum, which is only around 2 km away.

Tourists can also hire a private taxi from top car rental companies in Manali till the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum for a hassle-free journey. To reach Manali, they can take flights to the Bhuntar Airport, which is at a distance of 50 km. Alternatively, tourists can book train tickets to the nearest railhead to Manali – the Joginder Nagar railway station, which is approximately 146 km away. Private taxis can be easily from both the airport as well as the railway station. Tourists planning to take bus service till Manali town can avail it from nearby important cities like New Delhi, Chandigarh, etc.

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Location Map for Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and Museum Manali