Dolls play a vital role in developing social, emotional, and language skills in children, and also train them to interact with others in a social setting. To promote these values, the International Dolls Museum was set up in Chandigarh as an entertainment and developmental hub for kids. It was established in 1985 in the complex of Bal Bhawan. The building sits adjacent to a small auditorium next to spacious green lawns.
To appeal to the imaginations of kids and introduce them to the cultural heritage of various countries, around 300 different kinds of dolls were initially acquired from 25 countries including the USA, South Korea, Russia, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Japan, Malaysia, etc. The information boards, which form the background for these artefacts, display geographical and demographic details of the respective countries. This not only catches the curiosity of the kids but also helps to disseminate information about the dolls. There are also colourful life-size cutouts of the dolls with hollow spaces for kids to insert their faces and take photographs.
The exhibition area consists of one big circular hall with large show windows covered with sheet-glass for the display of the dolls, puppets, and marionettes. Dolls representing various tribes, brides in their wedding attire, and jewellery from different parts of India provide a domestic cultural flavour to the exhibits. Narrative scenes depicting the stories from mythology, history, fairy tales, and legends are recreated in ey- level glass boxes. Tales of renunciation of Lord Buddha, the Sacha Sauda story from Guru Nanak Dev’s life, the story of Eklavya from Mahabharata, etc., are all beautifully displayed here. Korean dolls dressed in traditional hanbok and Japanese dolls in their silk kimonos enchant both the kids and adults alike. Dolls made of natural sea pearls add a sense of wonderment to the collection. A doll from Sweden donated by an old couple in the memory of their daughter, worth 6.5 lakh Indian Rupees is another highlight of the museum.
Shadow puppets from Indonesia, though technically belonging to performing arts, add to variety to the doll collection. Bunraku puppets from Japan, Kachina dolls from Denmark, wooden hanging dolls from Belgium, peg-wooden dolls from Germany, ballerina dolls from Latvia, and troll dolls and porcelain dolls from the USA make up the main body of the doll collection.
If a guided tour is required, one can request the same from the information officer seated in the reception area.
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Approach road and the entrance to the International Doll Museum and Bal Bhawan complex.
Information board on the entrance of the museum building announcing the working details of the museum like the entry fee, information about the guided tours, opening and closing times and other facilities like wheelchairs accessibility, etc.
The entrance ushers the visitor into the reception and souvenir shop area, from where tickets can be purchased for the museum visit. Also, if a guided tour is required one can request the same from the information officer seated in the reception area.
Toy train in the foreground and the Indian Bridal Doll Collection in the background are some of the few artefacts housed in the exhibition hall of the museum.
Dolls from various regions of India like Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland, Rajasthan, etc., clad in their regional costumes are placed in one corner of the museum.
The finesse of the details and refinement of workmanship is evident in this close-up shot of the dolls.
Dolls from various regions in India in their own ethnic costumes and jewellery act as a splendid introduction to the land and its people.
Dolls from all over the world like North America, Europe, Korea, and China constitute a big part of the total exhibits of the museum, giving it an international face. A collection of dolls from Spain is especially loved by visiting children.
Different narrative stories from history and mythology are depicted in scenic form. This exhibit narrates the story of Gautama Buddha's renuciation.
Entry is free for children below the age of 12 and for senior citizens.
An additional fee of INR 5/- is charged for using a camera.