Immersive Learning in Heritage Conservation: Indian Institute of Heritage Visits City Palace Museum, Udaipur

Students from the Master's programme in Conservation, accompanied by faculty members-including the Dean (AA) and Dr. Satish Pandey, Head of the Department of Conservation-from the Indian Institute of Heritage, New Delhi, visited the City Palace Museum, Udaipur, on 8th and 9th May 2025. The group received an in-depth tour of the museum's galleries and current exhibitions, guided by the curatorial team. The students gained valuable insights into ongoing architectural and material conservation projects being undertaken by the museum's specialized departments. Dedicated sessions on archival practices, documentation, museum outreach, and in-house training programmes further enriched their understanding of the museum's comprehensive work. Professional conservators shared detailed experiences of past and present projects, discussing the challenges encountered and the innovative solutions developed. The students also learned about upcoming research initiatives planned at the City Palace Museum, fostering a deeper appreciation for heritage conservation in practice.

Conservation students in an immersive learning session, exploring heritage preservation techniques at the City Palace Museum, Udaipur

Students from the Master's programme in Conservation from the Indian Institute of Heritage, New Delhi and team MMCF

Summer Scholars: Internship

This summer, The City Palace Museum and the Maharana Mewar Research Institute (MMRI), under the auspices of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, welcomed a diverse group of student interns. Their projects reflected a vibrant blend of research, creativity, and meaningful engagement with the Museum's collections and educational programs.

Ms. Shivani Raghuwanshi, a postgraduate student in Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology from Vikram University, Ujjain, recently completed a two-month internship (13th February - 13th April 2025) with the Curatorial Department at the City Palace Museum, Udaipur.

During her internship, she led a history narrative session for International Women's Day, contributed to digitizing and documenting the museum's locks and keys collection, and conducted an ethnographic study of the Silawat community, known for their traditional soft stone sculpture craft. Her engagement in these projects highlights the museum's dedication to offering practical learning opportunities for emerging scholars and promoting deeper appreciation of the region's rich heritage.

Ms. Tanisha Modhia, studying Museology at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, completed a two-month curatorial internship. She documented the terracotta art tradition of Molela through in-depth research and interviews, and also conducted a brief study of Mewar paintings. Additionally, Tanisha contributed to designing an educational activity for World Music Day. From Miranda House, University of Delhi, we were pleased to host three undergraduate interns:

Ms. Unnati Nigam, a second-year student, documented traditional folk games engraved into the architecture of The City Palace Museum. She explored game boards carved into windowsills, gateway pedestals, and walking paths- remnants of everyday leisure and social practices.

Ms. Suditi Sinha, a final-year B.A. student, undertook a research project entitled "Of Thrones and Bureaucrats: A Protean Mewar in Postcolonial Rajputana." Her work involved analyzing archival documents to examine Mewar's political and bureaucratic transitions post-independence.

Ms. Swasti Khare, also a final-year student, pursued the project "Mewari - The Sun Shrouded in Clouds." She delved into issues of linguistic identity and cultural memory in Mewar, drawing on oral histories, archival resources, and historical texts.