Museums are not always boring and a store for conventional masterpieces, as we always think about them. When in Delhi, our opinion continues to be debated as there goes a quite long list of interesting museums. Possibly, there is at least one place catering to your specific interests, a warehouse possessing a list of all your favorite collectibles.
Run your eyes through below to find your place:
History lovers
1. National Museum of Natural History
Location: FICCI Building, Barakhambha Road, Tansen Marg, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Closed: Monday & National Holidays
Attractions: An institution devoted to environmental education, displays a life size model of dinosaur in front of the museum. It introduces the visitors to natural history and ecology, having a large collection of stuffed animals and birds.
2. Election museum
Location: Inside the office of Chief Electoral Officer, Old St. Stephen’s College Building, Kashmere Gate, Delhi
Timing: 11.00AM to 04.00PM
Closed: Saturday, Sunday and National holidays
Attractions: The centre show cases the electoral journey of country with use of more than hundred archived photographs, maps and references.
3. India War Memorial Museum
Location: Red Fort, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions: This museum houses weapons used in the First World War and some arms from Mughal period.
4. National museum
Location: Rajpath Crossing, Janpath, New Delhi, Delhi
Timings: 10:00AM-5:00PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions: The Museum holds approximately 2,00,000 objects (Jewellery, Anthropology, Arms, decorative arts, paintings etc) and its holdings cover a time span of more than five thousand years of Indian cultural heritage.
5. Tibet House Museum
Location: I Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Timing: 9:30AM To 5:30PM
Closed: Sat & Sun
Attractions: The museum depicts the richness of Tibetan culture and art. It has a collection of old currency notes, headpieces, prayer objects and musical instruments.
6. Supreme Court of India Museum
Location: Tilak Marg, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:00PM (Mon-Fri)
10:00AM to 1:00PM (Sat)
Closed: Sunday & other holiday
Attractions: The things on display include history of Indian legal system from British period, the Harappan seals, Ashokan edict and Nalanda Copper plate, antique furnitures, souvenirs, ceremonial costumes and files relating to landmark judgements delivered by Supreme Court.
7. Purana Quila Museum
Location: Purana Quila, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Closed: Friday
Attractions: Many interesting objects and fact sheets have been put on display including prehistoric tools that were found back in 100 BC.
Science lovers
1. National Agricultural Science Museum
Location: NASC Complex, Dev Prakash Shastri Marg, Opp.Dasghara, New Delhi
Timing: 10:30AM-4:30PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions: The museum portrays the development of agriculture in India since prehistoric time and the present state-of-the-art technology in agriculture in our country, with a futuristic projection.
2. National Science Center Museum
Location: Bhairon Marg, near Pragati Maidan Gate No. 1, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Closed: Holi & Diwali only
Attractions: Constructed on 8 floors, It has various sections for all age groups such as Heritage & Dinosaur gallery, Human Biology gallery, Fun Science Library, explanation of laws of physics. This museum has the first fun-packed multimedia centre in the country.
Bizarre
1. National Police Museum
Location: Block No.-4, CGO complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM To 5:00PM
Closed: Saturday & Sunday
Attractions: The museum contains several thought provoking items all related to police, Crime & Criminals, from the ancient to the modern times.
2. Metro Museum
Location: Metro Museum, Patel Chowk
Timing: 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions: Metro museum showcases the genesis, history and journey of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)
3. Shankar’s International Dolls Museum Musical
Location: Nehru House, 4, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:30PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions: The India exhibit section comprises 500 dolls dressed in costumes worn from all over the country. 6000 dolls from 85 countries are on display at this museum.
4. National Philatelic Museum
Location: Dak Bhavan, Sardar Patel Chowk, Sansad Marg, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:00AM
Closed: Saturday & Sunday
Attractions: It has an extensive stamp collection including the first stamp issued in India by the Sindh Dak (1854) and stamps issued before Independence by the rulers of the Princely States.
5. Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
Location: RZ-83, Sulabh Bhavan, Mahavir Enclave, Palam-Dabri Marg, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Closed: Sunday
Attractions: A unique museum has a rare collection of facts, pictures and objects detailing the historic evolution of toilets and provides developments relating to technology, toilet related social customs, toilet etiquettes and prevailing sanitary conditions.
6. National Rail Museum
Location: Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
Timing: 9:30AM to 5:30PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions: This unique museum has a collection of over 100 real size exhibits of Indian Railways. A ride in joy train and mono rail (PSMT) is the most exciting experience besides boating.
Famous personalities
1. Gandhi Museum
Location: Opposite Raj Ghat, Delhi
Timing: 10.00am To 5:30 pm
Closed: Monday
Attractions: The museum contains some of Mahatma Gandhi’s personal belongings. It also displays sculptures, photographs and paintings of Gandhi and the history of the Satyagraha movement as well as the philosophy of ‘ahimsa’ (non-violence).
2. Nehru Museum and Planetarium
Location: Teen Murti Bhavan, Teen Murti Marg, New Delhi
Timings: 10:00AM-5:00PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions:The residence of Late Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India was converted into a museum after his death. You can also find newspaper clippings and photographs from the Independence Movement.
3. Gandhi Smriti Museum
Location: 5, Tees January Lane, Birla House, New Delhi.
Timing: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed: Monday
Attractions: The residence of industrialist BD Birla has been converted into a memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, where he used to stay during his visits to Delhi. Large collection of photographs with a few personal belongings and a series of small dolls houses and terracotta dolls illustrating Gandhijis’ life are the attractions at this museum. Multi-media show is also held between 1:00pm to 1:30pm.
4. Ghalib Museum and Library
Location: Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Closed: Sunday
Attractions: The museum has been established in memory of great Urdu poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib showcasing statue, photographs, books and important documents of his age.
5. Indira Gandhi Memorial
Location: No. 1, Safderjang Road, New Delhi
Timing: 9:30AM to 5:00PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions: Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum was the residence of the former Prime Minister of India. The collection of rare photographs of the Nationalist movement, the personal moments of the Nehru-Gandhi family and her childhood is on display.
6. Zakir Hussain Museum
Location: Jamia Milia Islamia, Okhla, New Delhi
Timings:10:00AM-5PM
Closed: Friday
Attractions: An exhibition of photographs, souvenirs and memorabilia, acquired during Dr. Zakir Hussain’s term as President of India.
Ancient antiques
1. Archaeological Museum
Location: Red Fort, Old Delhi
Timing: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Closed: Government Holidays
Attractions: The museum exhibits objects that date to the Mughal period including paintings, textiles, costumes, maps and weapons.
2. Air Force Museum
Location: Palam, Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi
Timing: 10.00am to 5.00pm
Closed: Monday & Tuesday
Attractions: A collection of airplanes and armory depicting the history of the Indian Air force is on display.
Art lovers
1. Craft Museum
Location: Bhairon Road, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Closed: Monday and National Holidays
Attractions: Indian crafts, Wooden Carvings, Metal ware, Paintings. Mud huts with painted walls and thatched roofs, courtyards, Terracotta horses recreating village shrines, craftsmen at work are some of the elements that add to the rural ambience of the place.
2. National Gallery of Modern Art
Location: Jaipur House, India Gate, Near Delhi High Court, New Delhi
Timing: 10:00am To 5:00 pm
Closed: Monday
Attractions: The royal building of the museum was formerly the residence of Maharajas of Jaipur. It houses a splendid collection of Indian contemporary art including paintings, some of which are as old as 150 years.
3. Sanskriti Kendra Terracotta & Metal Museum
Location: Anandgram P.O Arjungarh Mehrauli, Gurgaon Road, New Delhi
Timing: 10.00AM to 5.00PM
Closed: Monday
Attractions: The museum has a collection of “everyday arts” which houses only terracotta & metal artifacts depicting the story of life. The complex has a workshop and an Artists Studio where artisans work and also live.
4. National Children’s Museum
Location: 1 Kotla Road, Near I.T.O. New Delhi
Timing: 9.00AM to 5:30PM
Closed: Sunday & Monday
Attractions: Institution for enhancing creativity among children. It holds regular classes and workshops on creative arts.
Must read: albert hall museum, chandni chowk market, majnu ka tila restaurant, Cafes In Delhi, late night restaurants in Delhi, late night food in delhi, Bowling in Delhi
Which one is your favorite? Tell us by commenting below.
By: Isha Chopra
Picture credits:DelhiPedia, TravelSamosa, wikimedia, flickr, IndiaToday, MedwayMonkey, HindustanTimes, toutravelworld, IndianHoliday, Livemint, vernerjohnson.com, homeexchange.com