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The capital city of Delhi is not only a treasure house of historical monuments, but also boasts of having some of the finest museums and galleries exhibiting some precious collections of art, artifacts and finds from the prehistoric and historic periods. Though these are lesser-visited sites, they provide a glimpse into India's history, its traditions, art, culture and much more. These places are specially important for those travelmasti visitors who are interested in history and civilization. Iti s a treat unparalled, if curiosity demands quenching.
As much as it is a city of the future, Delhi revels in its past and has a keen sense of its unique place in the past, present and future of this country It celebrates India’s rich multicultural legacy and tenderly preserves its inheritance of olden treasures in its scores of outstanding museums, without doubt the most varied in the country. It would not be an exaggeration to say that some part of Delhi’s soul resides in its museums.
Just like the history and the monuments, the museums of Delhi will fascinate any visitor who is curious to know what the heritage of Delhi is all about. The museum also has activity rooms for children to play and learn. |
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THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART, housed in the residence of Jaipur's former maharajas has a superb collection of paintings dating from 150 years ago to the present day.
Company School paintings of the 19th and early 20th centuries and the works of Rabindranath Tagore, Jammi Roy and Amrita Sher Gil hold pride of place amidst exhibits, which give an overview of the evolution of modern Indian paintings and sculpture.
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The National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art periodically organize special exhibitions.
National Gallery of Modern Art Located in Jaipur House, near India Gate, this gallery was originally the palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
There are over 15,000 paintings, sculptures and graphics, which are exhibited from time to time. The works of modern Indian artists like Gagaendranath Tagore, Nanadalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Amrita Shergil and others are on display. In the gardens of this gallery works of the best Indian sculptors is displayed.
The gallery also houses a well catalogued library and a sales counter where reproductions, catalogues, picture post cards and posters can be purchased.
Address: Jaipur house, India Gate Tel: 23384580
Website: http://www.ngmaindia.gov.in
Timings: 10 am to 4.30 pm
Closed: Mondays |
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THE RAIL TRANSPORT MUSEUM
Located in south of Delhi close to the diplomatic area of Chanakayapuri, it traces through the 140 year old history of the Indian Railways. The museum, spread over a ten acre area, is the first of its kind in India.
The indoor museum is highly informative and exhibits a wide range of interesting objects.
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Centre of attraction, are a collection of 26 vintage locomotives, 17 quaint carriages and saloons and a complete armoured train parked outside.
The other highlights include the Fairy Queen of 1885,(the oldest working steam locomotive), the luxury saloon of the Prince of Wales(1876)(the carriage in which the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were carried) and the saloon of the Maharaja of Mysore, made of teak wood and covered with ivory A toy train going around the yard is also visible here.
Children can enjoy a ride on the miniature rail track. A leisure walk through the criss-crossed railway lines will bestow you with some of the oldest locomotives of the last two centuries, brought from all pockets of the world.
Tourists can find a number of models displayed with buttons to push, and displays on every aspect of rail transport you could possibly think of. There's even a Braille exhibit for the blind! As you will move inside, to your amazement, you will also find the humongous skull of an elephant that charged a mail train in 1894 and lost. Enjoy mild refreshment at the museum restaurant, before you go for a dream ride. In the grounds a narrow gauge toy train chugs around a short loop throughout the day.
Timings:
Summer-08.30 am to 11.30 am and 04.00 pm to 05.30 pm
Winter: 09.00 am to 05.30 pm
Closed every Monday. |
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THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
On Janpath is the premier repository of antiquities. Built in 1960, it has an extraordinary collection representing the entire span of Indian civilization from pre-historic times.
Its galleries include finds from the Indus Valley n Impeccable Melting Pot of History, Beauty And Fun Civilization, superb sculptures in stone, and bronzes from the Chola period, the largest collection of miniature paintings in the world,
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manuscripts, a Buddhist Gallery, including relics of the Buddha from Piprahwa, the exquisite Jewelry Gallery, the Anthropological Gallery of tribal art; galleries devoted to decorative and applied arts, Maritime Heritage and Pre-Columbian art, and the Central Asian Antiquities, Gallery of Auriel Stein's finds along the ancient Silk Route (the great murals however, are on display at the adjacent Archaeological Survey of India).
Located just south of Rajpath, on Janpath, National Museum contains one of the largest and most precious collections of Indian art, terracotta and wood sculptures dating back to the Mauryan period ( Second and Third century BC), exhibits from the Vijayanagar period in South India, miniature and rural paintings, and costumes of various tribal people. The museum is definitely worth visiting and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. There are film shows most days of the week. Location: Janpath, New Delhi
Location: On the corner of Janpath and Maulana Azad Road, adjoining the Archaeological Survey of India.
Tel: 23019776/ 490/ 272 ext 285
Website: http://www.nationalmuseumindia.gov.in
Entry Fee: Indians Rs. 10 Foreigners Rs 150 Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM.
Mondays closed.
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THE NEHRU MEMORIAL MUSEUM
The Nehru Memorial Museum On Teen Murthi Road near Chanakyapuri, the colonial residence of the first Indian Prime Minister, Teen Murthi Bhawan, has been converted into a museum. Several rooms remain as Nehru left them at the time of his death in 1964.
The opulent building was originally constructed as the home of the British commander-in-chief.
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Also in the grounds is the Nehru Planetarium, which gives an overview of the Indian Space program via many interesting taped shows on topics of interest to the general public. Get ready for a mind-blowing tour through the pages of modern history before the precincts take you to a mesmerising cosmos cruise.
Its special charm is that the rooms have been preserved as they were. Not far from here is the Indira Gandhi Memorial where one gets a glimpse of the life of the late Prime Minister.
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THE GANDHI MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Has a collection of memorabilia on Mahatma Gandhi. The Crafts Museum at Pragati Maidan has galleries displaying India's rich tradition of handicrafts.
An added attraction is the presence of craftsperson who are bought here from different parts of the country to demonstrate their skills.
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In this central part of the city are also located the National Philatelic Museum of Natural History, Mandi House, and the Malliah on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg. |
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THE TIBET HOUSE MUSEUM
On Lodi Road has a fine collection of tankhas, jewellery and ritual objects.
En route to Old Delhi are the Shankar's Dolls Museum of Archeology related to the Mughal era, and the Museum of Arms and Weapons which traces the development of arms from the Mughal age to the First World War.
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Location: Near India Habitat Centre Address: Institutional Area, Lodhi Road. Entry Fee: Rs 10, Timings: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. Closed on weekends. |
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SHANKAR’S INTERNATIONAL DOLLS MUSEUM
The Dolls Museum is a perennial favourite with the children, but it will interest everybody regardless of age. The museum has 6,500 exhibits from some 85 countries, with pride of place given to a collection of dolls in Indian costumes.
Also note the little houses, furniture, tea sets and toys that the dolls are displayed with. |
Location: Between Pearey Lal Bhavan and the Times Of India Office. Address: Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg Tel: 23316970-74 website: childrensbooktrust.com/dm.html Entry Fee: Adults Rs 10 Children Rs 5 Timings: 10 AM- 6 PM Mondays closed. |
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NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM-NEW DELHI
Natural History Museum at Federation House in New Delhi, Tansen Marg has a rich collection of stuffed animals and birds of the pre-historic times. It also conducts regular film shows and illustrated lectures on wild life and conservation for children.
The museum is open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm. There is no entry fee. Timings for the film show - 11-30 to 15-30. in Delhi. |
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INDIRA GANDHI MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Another national museum has been built at 1 Safdarjung Rd in memorium of Indira Gandhi, on May 27, 1985. Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own body guard on 31 Oct, 1984.
A glass cage has covered the spot where her body fell down. Before being bullet sprayed in from point blank range, Indira was on her way along the garden road out of her residence. |
At that place Czechoslovak Govt made a artificial water flow by crystal on steel plate of 33´25 m. The crystal stream on the steel plate is designed and planned by the Czech architect Jaroslav Mirich. 3 rooms are full with articles, which were in use by Indira. A crystal plaque in the garden, flanked constantly by two soldiers, protects a few brown spots of Mrs. Gandhi's blood on the spot where she actually fell Photographs of Indira are also there. The bloodstained sari and other dress materials of Indira are chemically preserved in the museum. You may go inside the private chambers to view reading room, dinning room, Dewan-i-Aam, Dewan-i-Khas etc.
Except Monday open everyday from 10-00 to 17-00
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National Children's Museum : Kerala Road, 9 a.m.—12 noon, 2 p.m. –5 PM Tel: 3317856.
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CRAFTS MUSEUM
This museum contains a collection of traditional Indian crafts in textiles, metal, wood and ceramics. It is located in the Aditi Pavilion at the Pragati Maidan Exhibition Grounds, Mathura Rd. It is part of a 'village life' complex where you can visit rural India without ever leaving Delhi. Admission is free.
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GANDHI DARSHAN
Located at Raj Ghat, the Gandhi Darshan is a display of paintings and photos about the Mahatma's life and deeds. The Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, also at Raj Ghat, has displays of some of Gandhi's personal possessions. |
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NEHRU PLANETARIUM
Situated at Teen Murti House the planetarium holds film shows on the solar system in English (11.30 a.m. & 3 p.m.) and Hindi (4 p.m.& 1.30 p.m.). A special show in Hindi (10.30 a.m.) is held on Sundays. Closed on Mondays and public holidays. |
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DOLL MUSEUM
Located on the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Museum has a collection of over 6000 dolls from almost 100 countries of the world.
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MUSEUM OF TOILETS
The Museum has been established with the following objectives:
i. To educate students about the historical trends in the development of toilets
ii. To provide information to researchers about the design, materials, and technologies adopted in the past and those in use in the contemporary world;
iii. To help policy makers to understand the efforts made by predecessors in this field throughout the world;
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iv. To help the manufacturers of toilet equipment and accessories in improving their products by functioning as a technology storehouse; and
v. To help sanitation experts learn from the past and solve problems in the sanitation sector.
Address: Sulabh Gram Mahavir Enclave, Palam- Dabri Marg.
Entry Free Timings: 10 am to 5 pm.
Saturdays closed.
sulabhacademy@vsnl.net, sulabh1@nde.vsnl.net.in |
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NATIONAL PHILATELIC MUSEUM
Head straight to Dak Bhavan where you can see every postage stamp that has been issued in India after Independence Day and final art work of many stamps.
There is a separate section of implements used by Indian postmen over the years- badges, spears, bugles, swords and leather bags.
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Address: GF, Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg.
Entry: Free. Timings: 10am to 5 pm
Closed on weekends. |
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TRIBAL MUSEUM
Set up by the Bharatiya Adim Jati Seva Sangh has an extensive collection of objects and artefacts used by tribal community across India.
Location: Behind Jhandewalan Metro Station, Punchkuian Road.
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Address: Thakkar Bapa Sadan, Dr Ambedkar Marg.
Entry Free Timings: 11 am to 5 pm.
closed on second weekends. |
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BAL BHAVAN
Bal Bhavan has been around for 50 years. The children’s museum here includes objects like jewellery, utensils, stone and metal handicrafts and musical instruments from various Indian states. The center also has a science park, an aviary, an aquarium, a traffic park and a functioning mini train.
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Then there are SANSKITI MUSEUM of Terracotta and Air Force Museum in South Delhi and RED FORT MUSEUMS in Shahjahanabad. |
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