Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village Museum – Part 1

Some places are too rich in history and culture to be covered in a single blog, and Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village Museum is definitely one of them. Spread across a large area near Manipal, this open-air museum preserves traditional homes, palaces, and structures that have been carefully relocated and restored from different parts of Karnataka and India 🌿.

Instead of rushing through everything, I decided to share my visit as a series of travel blogs, each part focusing on a few unique structures. This first part captures my initial experience at the museum and highlights two remarkable places — the Sringeri House and the Mudhol Palace Durbar Hall.

From the moment I stepped inside, the calm surroundings, wooden architecture, and earthy feel made it clear that this was not just a museum, but a place where history truly lives.

🏠 Sringeri House – A 160-Year-Old Home of Tradition & Simplicity

The Sringeri House is around 160 years old and originally belonged to a priest of the famous Sringeri Temple. This house gives a beautiful glimpse into the traditional lifestyle of temple priests and their families.

It is a multi-storey house, thoughtfully designed with different spaces for daily life: A traditional kitchen 🍳, A peaceful pooja room 🙏, Living areas and bedrooms

One of the most striking features inside the house is a large wooden cradle placed in one of the bedrooms. The size and craftsmanship of the cradle are impressive, showing the skill of artisans from that era 🪵.

Another lovely detail is the replica of a small goli soda shop, which was once part of this house. This small setup adds charm and nostalgia, reminding us how homes often doubled as small businesses in earlier times 🥤.

Walking through the Sringeri House felt warm and personal, as if the family had just stepped out for a while.

🏰 Mudhol Palace Durbar Hall – Where Power and Justice Once Ruled

The next structure that stood out was the Mudhol Palace Durbar Hall, originally from Mudhol. Many people may recognize Mudhol because of the famous Mudhol dogs, and interestingly, carvings of these dogs can be seen on the walls of the Durbar Hall 🐕.

This hall was an important administrative center in its time. People used to gather here to Present their problems, Seek justice & Attend official royal proceedings

The Durbar Hall is rich with historical displays, including –Weapons used during that period ⚔️, Horns of hunted animals, reflecting royal hunting traditions & Chairs and pallakis once used by the royal family 👑

Photographs of the Mudhol royal family are displayed on the walls, helping visitors connect the structure with the people who once ruled and lived there. Standing inside the hall, it’s easy to imagine the serious discussions and decisions that once took place within these walls.

This visit to the Sringeri House and Mudhol Palace Durbar Hall was just the beginning of my journey through Hasta Shilpa. There are many more homes, temples, and cultural spaces inside the museum, each with its own unique story waiting to be told.

In the next part, I’ll continue exploring more traditional houses that reflect everyday life, craftsmanship, and regional culture. Until then, this first walk itself made me appreciate how beautifully our heritage has been preserved 😊

To be continued…