Jain Museum (Mathura)

 museum, Jainism

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This building was built by Seth of Mathura in 1861 after mutiny as court house.
Nick named as 'Thornhill’s Folly' after name of Mr. Thornhill, the Magistrate and Collector of the district that time. Expenditure was Rs. 30,000.

It remained thus till 1874, when the idea of converting it into a Museum received the support of Sir John Strachey, who sanctioned from provincial funds a grant-in-aid of Rs. 3,500.

The first step taken ‘was to raise the centre court by the addition of a clerestory, with windows of reticulated stone tracery, and to cover it with a stone vault, in which (so far as constructional peculiari ties are concerned) I reproduced the roof of the now ruined temple of Harideva at Gobardhan. The cost amounted to Rs. 5,336. A porch was afterwards added at a further outlay of Rs. 8,494 ; but for this I am not responsible. It is a beautiful design, well executed, and so far it reflects great credit on Yusuf, the Municipal architect.