Bagnath Temple museum remains shut 6 months after completion

Bageshwar: A museum built to house centuries-old artefacts at the Bagnath Temple complex in Bageshwar remains closed six months after its completion, leaving visitors disappointed and raising questions over heritage management.Constructed at a cost of Rs 66.9 lakh within the temple premises, the museum was designed to preserve and display rare sculptures and archaeological artefacts dating from the 8th to the 16th centuries. However, despite being ready, it has not been opened to the public due to staff shortages and pending administrative arrangements.District magistrate Apoorva Pandey said the administration was ensuring that every exhibit carried verified historical information before the museum was opened.

Experts had been asked to verify details related to each sculpture and artefact so that visitors received accurate information, she said.Archaeology department official Chandra Singh Chauhan said the museum was expected to open in Aug. He said efforts were underway to fill staff vacancies and install a QR code-based digital information system that would provide information on each exhibit.The collection includes stone sculptures from the Katyuri and Chand dynasties, including Uma-Mahesh, Mahishasuramardini, Chaturmukhi Shiva, Sheshashayi Vishnu, Surya and Kartikeya.

Among the museum’s most valuable exhibits is a stone inscription of Katyuri ruler Bhudev, dated AD 859, regarded as the earliest historical record linked to Bagnath Temple.Visitors arriving after learning about the museum are greeted by locked doors. “I had heard about the temple’s rich history and was excited to see the sculptures preserved here. Unfortunately, the museum was locked. Such an important part of our heritage should be accessible to everyone,” said Shubham Gangwar, a tourist from Uttar Pradesh.Another visitor, Niyati, said opening the museum would add to the pilgrimage experience. “People travel long distances to visit Bagnath Temple. Being able to see these artefacts would make the visit even more meaningful,” she said.Temple priest Kailash Upadhyay said devotees regularly expressed disappointment after finding the museum closed. “The govt speaks about promoting religious tourism, but visitors leave without seeing these artefacts.

Opening the museum would strengthen Bageshwar’s cultural identity and help people connect with its past,” he said.Residents said Bageshwar’s archaeological treasures had remained out of public view despite efforts to promote tourism. They also pointed out that several ancient sculptures at Baijnath Temple had remained inaccessible for decades and urged authorities to make these cultural assets available to the public without further delay.