Government Museum, Bengaluru

Government Museum, Bengaluru, established in 1865 by the Mysore State with the guidance of Surgeon Edward Balfour who founded the museum in Madras and supported by the Chief Commissioner of Mysore, L.B. Bowring, is one of the oldest museums in India and the second oldest museum in South India. It is now an archaeological museum and has a rare collection of archaeological and geological artifacts including old jewelry, sculpture, coins and inscriptions. The museum is also home to the Halmidi inscription, the earliest Kannada inscription.