© dpa
Weekend Tips: What to Do This Weekend in Berlin
May 8 to 10, 2026: Events, festivals, exhibitions and more things to do for your perfect weekend in Berlin. more
The Legend of Prince Vishvantara: Boundless Generosity
Ende der Bilderrolle: Das Paravarta-Kloster, Detail
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Jürgen Liepe
Szene 22: Geburt der Enkelkinder veranlasst König Shibi zu Musik und Tanz
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Jürgen Liepe, bearbeitet von Sebastian Schubert
Szene 46: Verkleidet als Brahmane bittet Gott Indra Vishvantara, ihm die Kinder zu schenken
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst / Jürgen Liepe, bearbeitet von Sebastian Schubert
Das Paravarta-Kloster in der Stadt Banepa
© Deepak Tolange
As part of the “Family” theme cluster, a new presentation featuring a magnificent 10-metre-long Nepalese scroll painting has been installed in the Himalaya Gallery. It tells the story of the generous Prince Vishvantara, one of the Buddha's most famous rebirth stories.
The presentation highlights the content, form and origin of the Nepalese scroll, which depicts the legend of Prince Vishvantara in 85 consecutive scenes. The legend conveys the importance of balancing family obligations with ethical principles. Not only does Vishvantara give away all his possessions, he ultimately gives away even his children and wife. By doing so, he demonstrates his ability to overcome emotional attachment – one of the most important prerequisites on the path to enlightenment.
Curatorial team
The alternating presentation is curated by Lu Tian, assistant curator at the museum, and Lilla Russell-Smith, curator of the Central Asian Collection, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.
The Legend of Prince Vishvantara: Boundless Generosity is an alternating presentation of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst in the Humboldt Forum, located upstairs in the Himalaya Gallery, Room 315.
The presentation highlights the content, form and origin of the Nepalese scroll, which depicts the legend of Prince Vishvantara in 85 consecutive scenes. The legend conveys the importance of balancing family obligations with ethical principles. Not only does Vishvantara give away all his possessions, he ultimately gives away even his children and wife. By doing so, he demonstrates his ability to overcome emotional attachment – one of the most important prerequisites on the path to enlightenment.
Curatorial team
The alternating presentation is curated by Lu Tian, assistant curator at the museum, and Lilla Russell-Smith, curator of the Central Asian Collection, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.
The Legend of Prince Vishvantara: Boundless Generosity is an alternating presentation of the Museum für Asiatische Kunst in the Humboldt Forum, located upstairs in the Himalaya Gallery, Room 315.
Runtime: from September 2025
Price info: Since October 3, 2025, the Humboldt Forum has had a new pricing model:
With just one ticket, you will have access to the permanent exhibitions and temporary presentations – and you can choose between a one-day, two-day or group ticket for maximum flexibility. All of these ticket options allow you to visit the collections of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art, BERLIN GLOBAL, as well as other temporary exhibitions. The ticket is also valid for the special exhibition Family Matters (from 3 October) with interventions throughout the building and in the Knoblauchhaus Museum in the Nikolaiviertel.
Many areas and programmes are still accessible to you free of charge – including the Humboldt Laboratory with the new exhibition On Water. Water Knowledge in Berlin (from 10 October), the stairwell with Impressions. The Humboldt Brothers, the castle cellar, the sculpture hall, the video panorama and the presentation Traces. You can also attend numerous events and educational programmes without paying admission.
Price: €14.00
Reduced price: €7.00
Reduced price info: Admission remains free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 19, persons accompanying a severely disabled person (provided this is noted as B on the severely disabled person’s pass), persons receiving transfer payments and Berlin-Ticket-S-holders. Admission is also free of charge for Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the German Museums Association and the Federal Association for Museum Education.
With just one ticket, you will have access to the permanent exhibitions and temporary presentations – and you can choose between a one-day, two-day or group ticket for maximum flexibility. All of these ticket options allow you to visit the collections of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art, BERLIN GLOBAL, as well as other temporary exhibitions. The ticket is also valid for the special exhibition Family Matters (from 3 October) with interventions throughout the building and in the Knoblauchhaus Museum in the Nikolaiviertel.
Many areas and programmes are still accessible to you free of charge – including the Humboldt Laboratory with the new exhibition On Water. Water Knowledge in Berlin (from 10 October), the stairwell with Impressions. The Humboldt Brothers, the castle cellar, the sculpture hall, the video panorama and the presentation Traces. You can also attend numerous events and educational programmes without paying admission.
Price: €14.00
Reduced price: €7.00
Reduced price info: Admission remains free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 19, persons accompanying a severely disabled person (provided this is noted as B on the severely disabled person’s pass), persons receiving transfer payments and Berlin-Ticket-S-holders. Admission is also free of charge for Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the German Museums Association and the Federal Association for Museum Education.
Takes place here:
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