Bharat Bhavan opened in 1982 as a multi-arts complex funded by the Madhya Pradesh government — unusual at the time for its stated commitment to folk and tribal art alongside contemporary work. The galleries hold what is considered one of India's finest collections of tribal (Adivasi) art: Gond painting, Baiga work, terracotta and sculpture from across the state. The contemporary art collection is also strong, with works by major Indian artists of the late 20th century.
Beyond the galleries, the complex has an open-air amphitheatre, an indoor theatre, studios for resident artists, and a library. Events — theatre, dance, music — run throughout the year, and the programming is genuinely eclectic. The building itself, half-submerged in the hillside above the Upper Lake, is worth visiting for the architecture alone.