Museum-goers often pay a lot of attention to European, East Asian, or ancient Egyptian exhibits, but a region whose artistic ventures don’t receive nearly enough recognition is that of South Asia – in particular, the Mughal empire with its creative flair and worldly acceptance of artistic methods and craftsmanship from other countries.
The Mughal empire was one of the world’s most powerful kingdoms that encompassed much of modern-day Indian, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, ruling from the 16th to the 17th centuries. Though they ruled a mainly Hindu population, the Mughals were Muslim with Mongol origins, and were known for their rich culture and architecture, which particularly flourished under three remarkable emperors: Akbar, his son Jahangir, and his grandson Shah Jahan. If you’re thinking you’ve never heard of the Mughal empire, you’d be wrong – the Taj Mahal is an architectural legacy from this very era, built by Shah Jahan to commemorate his beloved wife.
The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is hosting our city’s first comprehensive exhibition on Mughal art, with over 100 artefacts from the golden age of the Mughal dynasty, from paintings and jewellery to weaponry, architectural segments, and even some rare surviving textiles from this period. After premiering in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Hong Kong is this exhibition’s only Asia venue, so grab the chance to see this show without having to travel to the UK!
Look out for beautiful historical pieces including a casket with mother-of-pearl inlays; a thumb ring from Emperor Akbar’s reign with western enamelling that shows the Mughal court’s hybrid aesthetic and acceptance of foreign crafts; an opulent pendant of jade, rubies, emerald, and gold that was likely made for Emperor Jahangir; wine cups and vessels that show ties between the Mughal court and the imperial Chinese courts; and a beautiful dagger scabbard and hilt adorned with over 2,000 gemstones, showing motifs of morphing animals.
There are also some digital exhibits to keep things dynamic, so take the time to look through the artistic significance of the Taj Mahal with the multimedia installation near the beginning of the gallery. At the very end of the exhibition, you can also take a quick personality test to get paired with a Mughal treasure that suits you the most – a card of this artefact will even be printed out for you to take home.
‘Treasures of the Mughal Court from the Victoria and Albert Museum’ runs until February 23, 2026, and tickets are priced from $150, which also grants access to HKPM’s thematic exhibitions in galleries one to seven.
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