Buddha Museum Gorakhpur was established in 1987 but the present building came into existence in 1997.The museum's main aim is the collection, preservation, documentation, exhibition of the cultural property and to make them available for educational activities to create awareness about the glorious past. It show cases items like age old sculpture, figurines, terracotta items, beads etc. Most of th
e objects here are rare and priceless. Presently four galleries are on display in the museum. About 2023 pieces of metal and stone sculptures, terracotta, potteries, thankas, miniature paintings etc. have been displayed in the galleries. The first gallery consists of Buddhist and Jain Art objects, ranging from Kushan period to medieval period. Sculptures of Mathura and Gandhara schools represent various events of Buddha's life. Fantastically decorated inscribed Jain Ayagapatta, Thirthankar Mahavira, Parshwanath are also on display in the gallery. In the second gallery, miniature paintings of Rajasthani, Pahari and Bundi style are on display. In the third gallery Hindu sculptures are displayed which are very useful for iconographical study. In the fourth gallery terracotta from various Buddhist sites like Sarnath, Rajdhani, Kopia and other places are on display. Animal figures, pots, seals, Suka-Sarika, eight handed Ganesha, dakini (a baby eater), human figures ranging from Maurayan period down to Gupta period certainly deserve appreciation from the visitors.
