KENDRAPARA: The Kanika Museum at Rajkanika here is indeed an asset to the State highlighting rich legacy of culture and tradition. More than 5,000 artefacts have been displayed in 12 sections in the museum.
It was set up in the 102-year-old two-storey Kanika palace in 1960s by the royal family to display hundreds of antiquities, wildlife trophies, mirrors, paintings, rare photographs, arms and other antique items.
The Kanika palace covers an area of 300 acres and all imperial treasures from the palace have been displayed for public.
Recently, the museum was renovated by scion Shivendra Narayan Bhanjadeo.
Art works in the museum include rare paintings, pottery, bronze wares, inscribed wares, toys, clocks and court documents. “The 99-centimeter-long skull of a salt-water crocodile displayed in the museum is the world’s largest skull of the crocodile,” said Sudhakar Kar, a noted herpetologist and a crocodile researcher of Wildlife and Forest Department of the State.
“The giant crocodile was shot dead in 1926 by Rajendra Narayan Bhanjadeo, my great grandfather in Dhamra river. A elephant’s skull and foot have also been added to the museum’s collection,” said Shivendra Narayan Bhanjadeo.
He added that many projects are underway to develop the museum into a major tourist attraction.
