Museums Of Delhi

Museums are a showcase to the past and the present. Art lovers would certainly love the splendid display of contemporary art in the National Gallery of Modern Art at Jaipur House while one can glimpse the relics and artifacts ranging from the times of Indus Valley Civilization to the present at the National Museum. The 150-year long history of Indian railways with all its developments phases is well represented in the National Rail Museum. The open air Crafts Museum is the best place to witness Indian craftsmen at work. The other notable museums in the city of Delhi that are with visiting include the Shankar's International Dolls Museum and National Museum of Natural History.


Crafts Museum
The Crafts Museum at Pragati Maidan display Indian handicrafts and offer first-hand experience of craftsmen at work. Some of the most rare and exquisite pieces of art and craft that have collected selectively and carefully from all over India are the prized possessions of the museum. Established in 1956 with an aim to showcase and promote the works of native artisans, it has over 20,000 objects on display by early 1980s. The distinctive architectural display of Indian villages and authentically constructed mud huts adorned with folk art and tribal exhibits such as woodcarvings, paintings, paper-mache and embroidery attract the tourists very much. One can even see the full-sized wooden haveli from Gujarat at the museum.

Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum
The residence of the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, where her own bodyguards assassinated her on 31st October 1984 was converted into a museum after her assassination. Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum preserves the personal belongings very well and in such a manner that they are rendered alive by merely their presentation.

National Museum
The largest museum of Delhi, the National museum at Janpath offers a unique insight into the history and culture of India. It has a wide array of exhibits depicting the five thousand years of Indian history. The museum remains closed on Mondays. The three floors of the museum offer you splendid and priceless pieces of Indian art and sculpture that have been arranged in galleries according to the period to which they belong. The famous sculpture of Dancing Girl from Mohenjodaro belonging to 2,500 BC, the Moghul period paintings and Arabian manuscripts are some of the prized possessions of this museum. The silk banners, sculpture and wall paintings that were a part of Sir Aurel Stein's collection in the Central Asian gallery are worth seeing.

National Museum Of Natural History
A small but well documented museum known as the National Museum of Natural History is the best place to view the varied flora and fauna of India at once. Children love to handle specimens in the Discovery Room, where they can participate in creative activities such as animal modeling. It is maintained by the Ministry of Environment & Forests with an aim to promote environmental education and create awareness among the people.

National Rail Museum
The National Rail Museum is a must visit for those who love locomotives. The various models of train engines and coaches including the model of India's very first train, a steam engine that made its journey from Mumbai to Thane in 1853 and the locomotives displayed in the open are simply lovable. The museum sprawling across 10 acres of land is a storehouse of information on the 150-yr old history of railways in India. Children love the ride in the toy train on the miniature rail track around the museum. The highlight of the museum is the Fairy Queen built in 1855, which is undoubtedly the best-preserved locomotive of its times.

National Science Centre Museum
Designed specially for kids, the National Science Centre Museum has a large collection of working science models to educate children about the scientific facts and how things work and awaken their curiosity to know more. A trip to this museum can be both an educational and recreational trip at once.

Nehru Museum & Planetarium
Situated at the erstwhile residence of Late Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, Nehru Museum & Planetarium is the best place to learn about the history of the Independence Movement of India. The museum offers photographs of Jawaharlal Nehru in various phases of his life. The colonial building structure has high ceilings, teak panels, spacious verandas and well-maintained gardens. Prior to independence, this building was the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in India. Nehru lived here for 16 years. Also known as Trimurti Bhawan, it how houses the museum, a library and a planetarium dedicated to Nehru.

Sangeet Natak Akademi
India's premier institution for music, dance and the performing arts, Sangeet Natak Akademi has large audio-visual archive. Every year, this autonomous organization funded by the Government bestows honors on the outstanding artists in the field of performing arts.

Sanskriti Museum
Sanskriti Museum situated in the outskirts of Delhi is broadly categorized into two parts - Sanksriti Museum of Indian Terracotta and Sanskriti Museum of Everyday Art. The Museum of Terracota houses creative earthen objects made by some of the finest crafts persons hailing from different parts of India using their distinctive traditions and techniques.

Shankar's International Dolls Museum
There are about 6,000 dolls in Shankar's International Dolls Museum, collected from over 85 countries. This in itself is an overwhelming fact that can lure anybody to this special museum of Delhi. A third of this collection comes from different parts of India. These dolls are dressed in beautiful, bright-colored magnificent and dazzling costumes representing the country or the region, where they belong.

The National Gallery Of Modern Art
The best place to see Indian contemporary art, this museum at Jaipur House in Delhi is known as the National Gallery of Modern Art. The royal building of the museum was formerly the residence of erstwhile Maharasjas of Jaipur. It houses a splendid collection of paintings, some of which are as old as 150 years! The painting treasure housed here includes the 19th and early 20th century paintings of British artists Thomas Daniell and his nephew William.

Tibet House
An excellent resource centre offering glimpses of Tibetian history, the Tibet House houses a collection of Tibetan artifacts brought to India by Dalai Lama, when he fled from there. The prized possessions of this museum include the rare 15th century 'Thangkhas', beautiful Buddha figurines, old currency notes, musical instruments, objects of prayer and antique jewellery.