[5][6] H. L. Nagegowda, an Indian civil servant and folklorist, thought of creating a museum to exhibit the varied folk art and culture of Karnataka.

The concept of establishing a museum to exhibit the rich folk art and culture of Karnataka was the brain-child of H. L. Nage Gowda, a civil-servant by profession and also a folklorist, who, after retirement, made it his lifetime goal.

Following his retirement from Government service, Gowda generated financial resources by way of contributions from friends supplemented by his retirement benefits to create a core fund with which he purchased land of 15-acre (61,000 m2) on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway and established the Janapada Loka, a "folk cosmos" on 12 March 1994, creating a village ambiance with lush green vegetation.

It also houses a plethora of rural artifacts which bring out the theme of "folk literature, music, dance, festivals, sculpture and lifestyle".

The front face of the gate's leaves have images of Shiva and Vishnu embossed on them, which are cult figures of worship.

[6] The first museum building in the complex is the Lokamatha Mandira where exhibits consist of various types of rural household items and agricultural tools.

[12] The household items of daily use by rural folk on display are cooking vessels, jars to store pickles, salt containers and serving utensils made of stone, wood and mud.

[9][12] Brass and copper vessels used for worship, tools and tackles used for harvesting and climbing trees to pluck coconuts and areca nuts, large sized pots made of mud used for storing grains, old hand-looms are also exhibited here.

[12] This wing of the museum is a double storied building, which has a profusion of exhibits of large dolls of artists who perform the folk dances of Moodalapaya Yakshagana and also of Garudi.

Puppets made of leather from Nagamangala, used for puppetry shows, a popular art form in some regions of the state, are exhibited.

Here displays are with photographs of his work and his interaction with the tribal people and folk tribes to collect information on artifacts for exhibiting in the museum.

[9][12] Ayagaramala is an open yard where the exhibits relate to pottery, cottage industries, machinery for sugarcane crushing and oil extraction, a "bullock cart", and a wooden chariot used in temple processions.