Kalabhoomi: A walk through living heritage

Nestled in the heart of Bhubaneswar’s creative corridor, Kalabhoomi captures the essence of Odisha’s rich artistic heritage. Dedicated to the state’s master artisans, the museum celebrates handloom and handicraft traditions through a thoughtfully curated display of breathtaking craftsmanship.

Built using authentic local materials, the museum’s architecture sets the tone even before one steps inside. Its laterite stone exterior, reminiscent of some of Odisha’s oldest monuments, creates an immersive cultural experience from the moment visitors arrive.

Kalabhoomi is organised into two distinct zones: a display area and a live section. The display galleries present a comprehensive survey of Odisha’s handlooms and handicrafts, while the live section brings these traditions alive through workshops, performances and direct engagement with artisans.

The galleries

Stepping into Kalabhoomi feels like entering a living archive of Odisha’s artistic soul, where each gallery unfolds a distinct chapter of the state’s craft legacy.

From the Dhalapathar parda fabrics of Khurda district to the intricate appliqué work of Pipili, the exquisite Khandua and Ikat textiles, and the tribal weaves of Habaspuri and Kotpad, each textile tradition finds its own space and narrative within the museum.

Beyond textiles, dedicated galleries explore Odisha’s diverse craft forms. Silver filigree from Cuttack, Lanjia Saura tribal paintings, and stone carving inspired by the Sun Temple at Konark sit alongside one another, revealing the breadth of the state’s artistic expression. The Terracotta Gallery greets visitors with an earthy warmth — an ode to potters who shape cooking vessels, votive figures, Puri clay pots and painted toys. The Tulsi Chaura, echoing temple architecture, reinforces the spiritual undercurrents that run through everyday craft practices.

The Traditional Painting Gallery bursts into colour, tracing a journey from ancient cave murals to refined styles such as Pattachitra and Oshakothi. Palm-leaf manuscripts, wooden masks, dowry chests and vibrant Jatri Pattis add layers of cultural memory to the visual experience. In the Stone and Wood Carving Gallery, fragments salvaged from lost temples of Bhubaneswar and doors from traditional homes evoke the grandeur of Odisha’s architectural past. The Natural Material Crafts Gallery highlights the ingenuity of rural Odisha, where nothing goes to waste and everything becomes craft. A vivid “tribal village” unfolds in the Tribal Crafts Gallery, where ornaments, tools, attire and household objects reflect the daily lives and rituals of Odisha’s diverse tribal communities.

The spiritual heart of the museum lies in the Crafts of Shree Jagannatha Culture Gallery, where ritual clothing, brass and bell-metal objects, sacred earthenware, rare Pattachitra paintings, and costumes of Mahari and Gotipua dancers recreate the devotional universe surrounding the holy Trinity. The journey culminates in the Handloom Gallery, where 114 sarees from across Odisha, each embodying distinct motifs, traditions and labour-intensive weaving techniques, hang like stories in fabric form, offering a breathtaking finale to the museum experience.

The live section

Equally compelling is the live section, which includes an open-air theatre and dedicated workshop spaces where visitors can interact with artisans, observe techniques up close and even try their hand at making something themselves.

Among the most inspiring experiences are the “living craft” encounters. In the terracotta workshops, artisans demonstrate how raw clay transforms into pots, figurines and decorative objects, while visitors are invited to sculpt their own souvenirs. Such immersive engagement turns a museum visit into a hands-on exploration of Odisha’s creative lineage.