Museum of Tribal Arts and Artefacts

Museum of Tribal Arts and Artefacts Review

This small museum on a 12-acre campus run by the Tribal Research and Training Institute (watch for that name on the sign out front) provides a look into the lives of Orissa's 62 tribes. In five galleries painted with the white pictographs of the Saora tribe display about 2,000 artifacts (labeled in English), including hand-loomed clothing, some stunning jewelry, dhokra (a special metal casting whose effect is as if the object has been created out of wound metal wire) items, hunting weapons, agricultural implements, crafts, musical instruments, and photographs. Many of the items are still in use among the tribes, but some—like the Bonda's elaborate neck rings—are being phased out as the modern world seeps in. Out back are authentic huts from five tribes in which the artifacts were formerly displayed.