Srinagar's SPS museum attracts tourists

Srinagar, July 5 (ANI): As the tourism season peaks in Jammu and Kashmir, the historical Shri Pratap Singh (SPS) Museum here is attracting many visitors.

The museum, built around 1898 by the then Dogra ruler Maharaja Pratap Singh, offers an insight into the culture and heritage of the state.

The museum houses numismatics, manuscripts, miniature paintings, weapons, utensils, musical instruments, furniture, sculptures, tiles and other artefacts.

Mohammad Shafi Zahid, the deputy director of the museum, informed that the tourists this year are preferring a visit to the museum over more famous locales like Gulmarg and Sonamarg.

Interacting with mediapersons here on Wednesday, Zahid said, "This is the peak tourist season. We have received a good response as large number of tourists visit the museum. They are not very keen to visit the famous scenic places like Gulmarg and Sonmarg but do visit the museum."

The tourists were impressed by the unique collection of arts, crafts, shawls and armoury exhibited at the museum.

"The museum displays a huge variety of items including sculpture of Vishnu, musical instruments, weapons and embroidery. The instructors have explained us everything about the museum and we are really happy," Shistra Jain, a tourist, commented.

The tourists said the museum gave them a glimpse of the rich tradition and culture of the state.

"I am feeling really good to see the ancient items which date back to 10th and 20th century. We saw various old archives, musical instruments like sitar, handicrafts, and saris, which were on display at the museum," said Summit Chakravorti, one of the visitors. (ANI)