Archaeological Site Museum, Ratnagiri was built in the year 1990 by the initiative of ASI as before this the antiques were kept in the excavated site and store room which deserved proper display to showcase their real value to the public and mass awareness.

 

It is a three storey magnificent building and was open to the public on 15th August 1998. It has 3485 listed antiques of which 238 are displayed in the museum galleries, corridor, back side verandah and in the front entrance of the museum. There are four galleries in the museum. The first gallery displays 25 antiques which includes, stone images made of Buddha, Avalokitesvara, Khasarpana, Manjusri, Tara-all belonging to 9th to 11th century AD. The second gallery displays 24 antiques which include sculptures of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Jambhala, Tara in various postures, Vasudhara, Chunda and others. The third gallery displays 81 antiques which show cases important stupas depicting Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Aparajita, Ushnishavijaya. The fourth gallery displays 80 antiques which show cases inscribed pot-sherds, terracotta plaque depicting Buddha, monastic seal, copper plates and bronze images of Buddha, Krishna-Yamari, Tara and Manjusri. The entrance gate is adorned with large sculptures of Avalokitesvara and Ashtamahabhaya-Tara.