The Government Museum in Cubbon Park is one of the oldest public museums in India, established in 1886. It holds a broad and genuinely impressive collection: stone sculptures from the Hoysala and Chalukya periods, ancient coins, bronzes, manuscripts, and decorative arts from across Karnataka. The Harappan gallery, with artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilisation including seals and pottery, is worth particular attention — it puts Bangalore's history in a much deeper frame than the city's tech-boom reputation might suggest.
The museum building itself is a handsome Victorian structure. It is often quiet — most visitors to Cubbon Park walk past without going in — which makes it all the more pleasant. The adjacent Venkatappa Art Gallery shares the complex and is worth combining into the same visit. Together they make for a good half-morning for anyone interested in South Indian history and classical art.